ARCHITECTS CONFER

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2632, 1 December 1915, Page 9

ARCHITECTS CONFER

COUNCIL OFTHE N;Z. INSTITUTE

THE CHAIR OF ARCHITECTURE

The annual meeting of tho New Zealand Institute of Architects was held m tho Accountants' Chambers yesterday, Mr. "\V. C. Chatfield, president, occupying tlio chair. There were prosent: Messrs. William Crichton, O. A. Lawrence, 6. O. Schwartz, J. Charlesworth, and J. F. Atkins (Wellington delegates), G. S. Gcldsborough, W. A. Gumming J. "\y. Warren. (Auckland), P urf i Clarkson (Canterbury), R. Bacon (hou. secretary), and \\. Gray. Young (lion, treasurer). Reports of the various district branches were read by Mr. W. Beau-chanip-Platts (secretary). A resume of ii?"? 111 ! 8 - re P ol ''' the institute was published in yesterday's Dominion. Tho statement of finance showed receipts to the amount of. £569 4s. ; td., and expenditure amounting to £469 9s. Id., leaving a balance of £99 15s. 3d. (cash m hand). The report and balancesheet were adopted. A motion submitted by the Auckland branch proposed—"That it is desirable that tho institute, considers the advisability of donating a portion of its funds towards a chair of architecture." It-was pointed out that this provision was made in the constitution. Alterations to Regulations. The nest business on the order paper was consideration of motions submitted by the Auckland District Branch of the Institute. These were as follow:— (a) That the oharge of 1} per cent, for copies, etc., of plans be charged direct to the owner in lieu of collecting same from tho contractor. (b) That She institute's conditions of competitions be modified to —"That an assessor shall 1 be appointed by the institute to prepare the conditions in conjunction with the promoters, also that the promoters shall select as the premiated design one of three designs chosen by tlie assessor and that his report shall be made public." (d) Re anuual ' subscription, that country members' subscription romain as at present, i.e., £2 2s. Tho chairman pointed out that to make the alterations proposed by the Auckland district would call for a special general meeting of the institute.. The council could not make them. All the branches had been made fully cognisant of the regulations under which members proposed to work, and their ideas were invited, and'now soon after these regulations had been approved and incorporated these drastic alterations were proposed. Mr. Cumming said that neither he nor other Auckland delegates wished in any way to embarrass tho institute, but when delegates knew why they were being proposed he thought that some consideration would be given them. Whilst he would not press them as a motion, he would not recede from leaving them for the fullest consideration of the council. Mr. Warren stated that he did not know that country architects were in favour of the 1} per cent, being charged to owners. They already had a hard enough task to get t'he 5 per cent, out of them. They, however, wero sure of their 1} per cent., as it was included in the cheque deposited by tho contractor, who only received back the balance. Mr. Atkins moved that the Auckland branch's motions A, B, and D bo referred to tho council for consideration at a suitable time. Mr. Lawrence seconded the motion. Mr. Hurst-Soager remarked-that they were all in favour of a chair of architecture being established. Where they might differ wasi as to where _ that chair was to he established, which re; quired very careful'consideration indeed. It was hardly possible to pro-1 vido for four chairs of architecture..' in such ■ a small country as New Zealand, but,he pointed,out that Auckland was intended, as the place. Mr. Cumming pointed out that Mr. Seager last year said it was a matter for tho University Senate to decide whore the chair was to-be established; now he went back 011 tlint by saying that it was a matter for the council to . decide. Why ho had asked Mr. Atkins to move that tho matter lie referred to the council was to avoid discussion, as he knew it would _be <1 red rag to his friend from Christchurch; At tho same time ho thought that Auckland should be considered, as it bad made the first move in the matter, but he agreed to leave the question as an open Dominion one. The motion was carried. State Fire Building Competition. ' Matters concerning the architectural competition in connection with the proposed State Fire Department's new headquarters building in' Wellington were considered in committee, as well as the rules governing that competition (now closed). Tlie matter is still undergoing considerAtion at the hands of the council. 011 tho motion of Mr. Hurst-Ssager it was decided; "That tho accounl of the secretary for the preparation of the regulations be paid and that Mr. Beaube thanked for the great care and trouble he has taken, ( and congratulated on the most successful conclusion of his work." The meeting will- be resumed at 10 a.m. to-day. During yesterday afternoon, tho delegates to the meeting were motored out to Silverstream, and there entertained at tho pleasant country seat of Mr. J. C-harlesworth.