MORE PROPOSED GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 14, 11 October 1921, Page 5

MORE PROPOSED GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS

Sir,—I regret to notice in the Hospital Commission report a suggestion that an architect should bo appointed to design nil hospital work, such architect to be sent periodically to America or “Timbuctoo” to learn tho latest hospital designing. Now, Sir, t it seems to most of us who have been most consistent followers of tho present Government that it is high time tho individual trades and professions should not be interfered with, but instead of adding to the already overstocked supply of Government officials, tho pruning-knife be used in a wholesale manner, and 50 per cent, of the inspectors and officials generally dispensed with. Retrenchment is highly necessary; in fact, urgently called for by the taxpayer at the present moment, and no further soft billets created for anyone—architects or otherwise. I trust that this latest attempt to create another branch of the already over-officered Health Department will be strongly protested against_by the New Zealand Institute of Architects. If is well known that this profession suffered terribly by tho war, nnd is again hard hit. by tho financial depression and the attempt of the Hospital Commission to take the architectural work away from the members of. the institute is about tho limit. Tho very latest American publication on hospital design cannot teach New Zealand architects anything startling. I am told some of the profession aro so bard hit. that they aro acting as designers and contractors, and carrying out work for their boards, thus saving hospital boards a considerable sum on the cost of the work, and receiving little or no further remuneration for themselves. Trusting an abler pen than mine can take this matter up, and tho institute entci’ its protest.—l am, etc., X.Y.Z.