WAS A FAIR SYSTEM ADOPTED?

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9542, 14 July 1909, Page 5

WAS A FAIR SYSTEM ADOPTED?

To the Editor

Sir, —As the reports published do not give the general public an accurate account of trie method adopted by the Masterton Trust Lands Trustees when recently deciding oa a plan for the new Star block, we would ask you to publish the enclosed copy of a letter recently sent by ua to the Trustees. — Yours faithfully, M. R. VARNHAM. CHAS. G. MONRO. E. J. ROSE. (Enclosure). To the Trustees, the Trust Lands Trust, Masterton.—Gentlemen.—He building Star block —It was understood that in fairness to the local architects, it would be best to invite competitive plans locally. This was quite the right course. Consequently we were invited to supply sketchschemes of the whole block, on the understanding that the succesful author would go on with the work at the usual fees. etc. Of cou r se, the ,;',wesßfu\ would natur- ; ally suppose tUt he would carry out the whole block at some future time, i The letter stated that the Trustees did not bind themselves to accept. any plan, but one would expect that j in all fairness a design would be accepted, whether exactly" to re- j quirements or not. It was also intimated that no sleeping accommodation was to be included in the planning, although the plans of one did contain some. Now, we only j ask for British fair play. We are ' not prejudiced, and have no wish to i cast any reflection on the appointed architect, but after putting the architects to the trouble and expense of preparing plans, we think that one of the three designs should have been accepted absolutely by the Trust Lands Trust, in a businesslike manner, and not be ignored, and an architect be selected by" ballot, as seems to have been the case. It is ru noured that the two builders on the Selection Committee refused to commj.it on the plans., as though it woul i not ba fair for them to do so. We consider that It would have been batter for these gentlemen to have refused to act altogether. Then again, what good is there in putting men on the Selection Committee who are not expert'. What knowledge have they of the merits of planning? We justly Say, "Every man to his own trade or profession." The plans should have been asked to be sent in nom de plume, and quite an outside expert or experts asked to judge the plans according to their merits, and the award given according to his decision. Now, in the matter of balloting. We understand that certain testii monials were read at the meeting for selection which militates entirely against fairness, and were quite in ignorance of such a fact being required. If testimonials were required, it was time enough after a design had been accepted. If a ballot was to take place, why were we not informed of it and given the opportunity to put in testimonials. We hone that in any future competitive plans being asked for. a batter system will be adopted to deal with the matter, and we look to being treated with fairness and justice.--Yours, etc., Signed— M. R. VARNHAM. CHAS. G„ MONRO. E. J. ROSE. Masterton, June 28th, 1909.