TO ARCHITECTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 August 1915, Page 3

TO ARCHITECTS.

MS IMIL'OKTAXT CASE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Chiisitelnirih, July HO. An important ease, affecting architects who carry oat contracts themselves by day labor, eame before ,Mr. Justice U-nniston in banco to-day, on the hearing of an application by Hugh Robinson Hamilton, directing the Hoard of Xew Zealand Institute of Architects to register. /Mr. 'BesAvick appeared for tile Board of the Xew Zealand Institute of Architects, and .Mr. Salter for applicant. Mr. 'Berwick raised a -preliminary point that the appeal was not laid within the period prescribed by fourteen days after the final determination.

Mr. 'Salter contended that final determination was on March 8, 1010, when, after being asked to reconsider its decision. communicated on October !), .10-14, the board -wrote wrote that it had nothing to add to its letter of October. It was stated that the application had been refused because applicant was in partnership with a builder ,and reference -was made to iMr. Justice Chapman's decision in Leaper v. The New Zealand Institute of Architects, in which his Honor held that l.eaper had simply added the trade of building contractor to that of architect. Mr. Salter eited cases on the question/of compliance v.-itii statutory requirements as to time. 11 is Honor expressed the. opinion that tho institute's defence was exceedingly shalbby. ft- has taken an entirely unsound objection to applicant, judging from the papers connected with the case. If applicant had been allowed to appeal, it seemed elear tlmt he would have succeeded. It was admitted that the decision of the institute in the matter wa-i unsound. "It is an exceedingly shabby transaction." his Honor continued. '' You would have thought people in their position, excr-ising a public duty, and a body which is dealing with the rights of parties, would have been only too glad to have seen their way to allow this." Mr. illiswick said he only appeared in tbc matter as instructed by another firm, and desired to say that he entirely shared his Honor's views in the matter. ITe (counsel) had no option. His Honor: All 1 can say is that it is an exceedingly shalbby proceeding, and ?« shabby that it ouyht to he rectified. 'Mr. lie-wick sfiid that he would communicate bis Honor's opinion to his (counsel's) principals. Mr. Salter submitted the question: "'Has the hoard really judicially considered the matter?'' His Honor said that there might be some ground, as suggested bv counsel, fo•• taking k-tf-p-s to set aside the board's decision. His Honor ordered the matter to'stand over.