For Art’s Sake

Progress, Volume XII, Issue 1, 1 September 1916, Page 722

For Art’s Sake

Is your art first with you ? Then you are artists; you may be, after you have made your money; misers and usurers; you may be, after you have got your fame, jealous, and proud, and wretched, and base:—but yet, as long as you won’t spoil your work, you are artists. On the other hand— your money first with you, and your fame first with you ? Then, you may be very charitable with your money, and very graceful in the way you wear your reputation, and very courteous to those beneath you, and very acceptable to those above you; but you are not artists. You are mechanics, and drudges, Buskin.

Minutes and Report of the Council of N.Z. Institute of Architects, Wednesday Aug. 9th, 1916

A meeting of the Council of the N.Z. Institute of Architects was held at Wellington on Wednesday, August 9th. The following were present:— Mr. Cummin president (in the chair) and Messrs Chatfield, Atkins, Mountfort, Crichton, Hooper, Wales, Charlesworth, Lawrence, McKay, Cray Toung, and the Secretary. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs Hurst Seager, Roberts, Allsop, Goldsbro’, Ashley Hunter and Clarkson. Proxies were lodged in favour of the president by Messrs Allsop and Coldsbro ; proxies from Messrs Walden and Salmond were received too late.

The minutes of the Council meeting held on March 1 last were confirmed and those of the following committee meetings adopted:—Ordinary Meeting Executive Committee on May 8 last, Special Meeting Executive Committee on June 3 last, Finance Committee Meeting, April 7 last, Education Committee meeting April 7 last, Practice and Discipline Committee, Committee on Standing Orders and the Report of the Editor re the Journal of the Institute.

The Committee of Practice and Discipline reported concerning the complaint made by a practitioner at Palmerston North, of unprofessional conduct on the part of a fellow member. In the opinion of the committee, the complainants’ charge could not be maintained; both parties should however, have awaited more definite directions from the client before taking any active steps. The report was adopted and the secretary instructed to advise both parties of the finding.

The committee on Standing Orders submitted a draft of standing orders for the guidance of the business of the council. ‘ These were approved and ordered to be printed and copies sent to members of the Council and the secretaries of District Branches. The report of the editor of the Journal was adopted and filed in the minute book as a record.

CONSTITUTION OF COMMITTEES The constitution and organisation of the several committees of the Institute was considered and it was found that the Committee of Practice and Discipline, and the Committee of Architectural Education could not be made effective use of as the members were scattered throughout the Dominion; no provision existed for calling them together, except at their own expense, and there were not enough members resident in Wellington to form a quorum. The members of the Practice Committee are:—The President, Mr. Goldsbro Auckland; Mr. Hurst Seager, Mr. Clarkson, Christchurch; Mr. Chatfield, Mr. Atkins, Wellington; Mr. Salmond, Dunedin. The members of the Education Committee are—

The President, Mr. Glimmer, Auckland; Mr. Atkins, Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Gray Young, Wellington; Mr. Hurst Seager, Christchurch; Mr. Vanes, Dunedin. In the case of the Practice Committee, there are two members residing in Auckland, and two in

Christchurch; while in the Education Committee there are also two members residing in Auckland. Many proposals were brought forward for an alteration that would enable a local quorum to be held, and it was finally resolved on the motion of Mr. Atkins seconded by Mr. Crichton:— (a) That the position of these committees be reported to the Auckland and Christchurch Members with the suggestion that they should arrange amongst themselves for one of their number in each centre to resign, so that a Wellington resident might be appointed for the purpose of forming a quorum.

(b) That this Council delegates to the Executive Committee the power to elect members in place of those who may resign under the forgoing resolution.

REGISTER OF STUDENTS ® ARTICLES. Under the provision of regulation Nos. 140 and 142, _ it is necessary for the Council to open these Registers. A draft of the headings was submitted by the Secretary and approved, and he was authorised to procure the necessary Registers and open them accordingly.

CORRESPONDENCE. In reply to a letter from Mr. W. S. Gibson of Hawera, the Secretary was instructed to write saying that the Council has no power to vary the regulations governing articles of apprenticeship. In the ease cited by Mr. Gibson there did not appear to be any hardship. The American Institute of Architects of Washington wrote asking for particulars as to the method of making appropriations for the erection of public buildings and under whose control they were spent. The letter was referred to the Executive Committee. A letter from the New Zealand Federation of Master Plumbers regarding the fixing of storage cisterns was referred to the Wellington District Branch for a reply. 1 Mr. W. P. Finch, a Fellow practising at Napier was asked for guidance as to the amount of nrize money which should be offered in any competition. The secretary was to write to him intimating that the Institute had no power to fix the premiums payable in any competition and pointing out that no member was under any obligation to enter a competition. In the case cited it certainly appeared that the premium was very inadequate. Mr. J. A. Louis Hay of Napier asked whether a member could act in conjunction with another person, not a member of the Institute, in the erection of a building. The Council decided that the Code of Ethics was against such an arrangement. To Mr. Hav’s second query as to whether a member could retain his Fellowship if he paid deposits, received from contractors, with his private account, the replv was that any person guilty of such conduct would bring himself under the Criminal Law and, if convicted, he would be expelled from the Institute. The Wellington District Branch wrote asking the Council to take steps to establish Technical School Classes, or supply a Syllabus for their guidance. It AVas pointed out that a Syllabus had already been prepared and that this was in possession of the Wellington Branch. The Secretary was asked to

look up a previous report of the Education Committee and supply the Wellington Branch with a copy, and at the same time to supply the Auckland Branch with a copy. The Otago District Branch wrote enquiring as to the liability of an Architect for the payment of I per cent, to the contractor when no tender was accepted. The Secretary was instructed to reply that no liability can be attached to the Architect as Section 35 of the General Conditions of Contract especially provides that such Commission shall be paid by the Employer. A letter was received from six practitioners resident in Wanganui complaining of the action of an Associate Member employed by the Wanganui Education Board, in that the member practised privately in violation of Regulation No. 30, and further, it was believed that in such practice he did not adhere to the Institute’s Scale of Charges. The statement of complaint showed that the member was not only fully employed by the Education Board, but also enjoyed the services of a qualified assistant. It was further alleged that this assistant shared with the member the fees earned by such private practice. In accordance with the provisions of Regulation No. 29 a copy of the complaint was ordered to be sent to the member and that the case be enquired into by a Committee consisting of Messrs Chatfield, Atkins, and Crichton. The Secretary read a letter from the General Manager of the State Fire Office, in reply to an enquirv as to the result of the recent Competition, in which the Manager stated that an award in this private competition had been made, but he had no authority to make anything public. After full discussion it was moved by Mr. Chatfield and seconded bv Mr. Crichton : That this Council records a vote of censure on those members who acted contrarv to the instructions of the Council bv entering the competition for the State Fire Insurance Building-, such competition being in contravention of the Regulations of the Institute.

LIFE HONORARY MEMBER ELECTED. The Otago District Branch wrote recommending that Mr. F. W. Petre be elected a Life Honarary Member of the Institute in view of his long connection with the Institute, and the valuable services rendered by him to it. It was unanimouslv resolved, on the motion of the President, seconded bv Mr. Chatfield, that Mr. Petre, of Dunedin, be elected a Life Honorary Member, and the nomination form required under Regulation 6 was thereon completed by the members present.

ELECTION OF MEMBERS. Mr. Allen C. Ford, of Dunedin, recommended by Messrs. Hooper, Walden & Wales, Mr. Ford having regularly served Articles was duly admitted as an Associate Member. Mr. Ford is now a Sergeant in the 16th Engineer Reinforcements. Mr. Arthur Ball, of Christchurch, recommended bv Messrs. Clarkson, Ballantyne & Penlington, was admitted as an Associate Member. Mr, Ball is a Private in the 17th Infantry Reinforcements,

Mr. Francis G. Hood, of Dunedin, was admitted an Associate Member on the recommendation of Messrs. Wclden, Hooper & Anscombe, Mr. Hood having regularly served Articles and travelled in England and the Continent in the study of his Profession. He is now in partnership with Mr. 0. McFic, an Associate practising in Dunedin. Mr. Frank Peck, F.R.1.8.A., . now residing . at Nelson, was on the motion of Mr. Atkins, seconded by Mr. McKay, provisionally admitted as a Fellow of the Institute.

The Secretary reported enquiries from seven persons, whose letters were put before the Meeting as to the terms and conditions under which they could be admitted to membership of the Institute. He had replied in each case quoting the Section of the Act, and the regulations, which required them to pass certain examinations before being admitted.

COMPLAINT REGARDING COMPETITION, The Council considered the complaint of the Otago District Branch against the action of the Assessor in connection with a recent competition. The matter Avas before the Council at its meetingon the Ist March last, and Avas adjourned pending the receipt of the Assessor’s Report and AAvard. These reports Averc now to hand, and were duly read, together Avith the replies and comments from the Canterbury and Otago District Branches. The matter Avas very fully discussed, and a letter Avas also read from the Otago Branch covering a complaint by a competitor against the Assessor and enclosing a copy of their Solicitor’s opinion in the event of their commencing an action against the Assessor, or the Promoters of the Competition. After a long discussion it Avas resolved—That this Council having heard and considered the complaint of the Otago District Branch re the action of the Assessor in the Competition, and the reply thereto by the Assessor, considers that as the conditions governing the Competition do not provide,—

(a) That there must he a certain minimum number of designs sent in to constitute a competition, (b) That the designs submitted must be of a certain standard of merit to warrant Award being made, (c) For any extension of time for closing the Competition; Therefore the Council is of the opinion that while the Assessor has undoubtedly acted in good faith he has exceeded the powers conferred upon him by the conditions governing the Competition and has committed an error of judgment in (a) opening any designs without making an Award thereon, and (b) in extending the time for closing the Competition after the date originally fixed by the conditions. The Council is of opinion that the conditions of the Competition formed a contract as between the Competitors and the Promoters, and the Competitors who sent in their designs before the 30th of November, 1915, had an undoubted right to have an Award made in terms of the conditions.

• GENERAL ITEMS. . The secretary reported that the balance at the bank Avas £284 14s. 2d. Accounts amounting to £146 17s. 2d. Averc passed for payment. Mr. LaAVrence reported that Mr. Stanley Natusch, an Associate Member of this Institute uoav on Active Service, had been mentioned in Despatches for gallantry in the field. It Avas unanimously resolved That a letter of congratulation be sent to his father, Mr. C. T. Natusch for conveyance to his son. It Avas also mentioned that Mr. Sheppard, a former student, Avho was Avith Messrs. Crichton & McKay, had been promoted to a 2nd Lieutenancy in the Royal Engineers.

PRESIDENT'S REMARKS. The President reported that during his recent visit to Australia he met the President and Council of the South Australia, Victoria and Ncav South Wales Institutes of Architects, and discussed with them the position regarding legislation for the Profession in New Zealand. He stated that he had promised to send copies of the Act, Regulations, original drafts of the Bill the General Conditions of Contract, and the Syllabus of examination and training to the three Institutes for their guidance. On the motion of Mr. Chatfield, the president Avas thanked for the interest he had taken, and the Secretary Avas instructed to render every possible assistance in fonvarding the documents promised by the president.

The president called the attention of the Council to the fact that Mr. White, of Opotiki, a life honorary member, was about to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of his Wedding day, and it was resolved that the congratulations of the Institute be tendered to him through the President. A vote of thanks Avas tendered to the President, and the meeting terminated.