UNFAIR COMPETITION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 57, 30 November 1917, Page 6

UNFAIR COMPETITION

IN ARCHITECTS' BUSINESS

ALLEGATIONS OP TOUTING

Allegations of unprofessional conduct were made- against certain of : ' their professional brethren by members; of tho Council of the Institute of; Architects in meeting yesterday. Tho institute has committed to definite shape, and to print, certain rules, a "code of ethics," which arn to be observed by architects in their relations with other architects. It is not considered proper for architects to solicit business in irregular ways or to "tout" for it, especially in order to oust or supplant another architect regularly employed by a certain client. It appeared that a good deal of soliciting goes on. Wiien certain architects hear that a person or firm has building work to do, they follow the practico, so it was alleged, of puttino in sketches unasked. It happens that those sketch suggestions aro sometimes adopted, and tho result may be that another architect loses this'customer. At tho meeting yesterday, Mr. C\m£ field, of Wellington, said that he had lost work in this way from clionts that he had served for 30 years. Mr. Chatfield moved that every branch form a Vigilance Committee to confer with and report to the Discipline and Practico Committee of the council upon tho' best method of preventing unprofessional touting for business to tho detriment of otner architects. Hβ said that the regulations did not permit the institute to deal with, those "touts" as he considered they should be punished, but he thought that if the vigilance committees made closo investigation of every complaint some of the offenders might bo discovereff, and publicity might act as a fairly strong deterrent. _ members, supporting the motion, said that tho practice obtained in other centres, but the evidenco was that the worst abuses were in Wellington. Complaint was made also against tho practico of certain builders to erect buildings without the direction of architects.

Tlie motion was carried. Another question raised was as to the practice of some architects of drawing plans for builders instead of for employers, for wliom buildings are to be erected, at a rate of 2J per cent. There was grave doubt as to whether even 2&_was paid in many cases. It was decided to point out to members tfiat tfio practice was not approved' by the institute, and that members should never issue plans without their signatures appended. It was decided also to advise the Builders and Contractors' Association that the institute disapproved of this class of business, anfl asked fhe assistance of the association, in putting a stop to it. It was pointed out, however, that some of the work was done by draughtsmen in architects' offices, and that much more of it was done by employees of the Publio Works Department and of local bodies. It was decided that a letter be sent to the Minister of Public Works, the Public Service Commissioners, and the larger local bodies, informing them that these employees were competing Tinfairly with architects who had to man I offices and other expenses.