Vol. CXVIII — 3055
The ARCHITECT & BUILDING NEWS
July 8, 1927
Proprietors: Gilbert Wood & Co., Ltd.
Editorial, Publishing and Advertisement Offices:
Managing Director: William L. Wood
Rolls House, 2 Breams Buildings, London, E. C. 4. Tel.: Holborn 5708 Registered Office: Imperial Buildings, Ludgate Circus, London, E. C. 4
Principal Contents
The Architect and the Law page 47 London News....................................................................... 47, 48 Essays by the Way — III ............................................. 48, 49
Sketch at Biskra (Illustration)................................................ 49 Some New Manchester Buildings (Illustrations).................... 50-55
Professional Societies........................................................... 56 Competition Notes................................................................... 56 Corning Events......................................................................... 56 The Tradition of the Grand Manner (Illustrations)........... 57-59, 61 The Repair of Rural Cottages — II (Illustrations).................... 60 Maladies and Remedies — I: Efflorescence on Brickwork...... 62
House in Brockswood Lane, Welwyn Garden City
(Illustrations)...........................................................63-65 New Ways and Means (Illustrations)...................................... 66 The Architectural Association Exhibition of Students’
Work (Illustrations)..................................................67-69 Architects’ Registration Bill.................................................. 70, 72 Building News in Parliament.................................................. 72 London Building Notes........................................................... 74 The Week’s Building News................................................ 76, 84
Building Contracts Open.......................................................... 78 Building Tenders...................................................................... 80 Current Market Prices.............................................................. 82, 84 Current Measured Rates........................................................... 86, 88
The Architect & the Law
A solicitor, of the good old family type, once remarked to us, apropos of the law’s uncertainties, that if a man snatched his watch and bolted he would certainly run after the miscreant and endeavour to get his property back. But if the man had, in some devious way, got possession of the watch and challenged him to go to court to prove his ownership and recover the article, he would take no further steps in the matter. He adduced in support of his view the fact that, however good one’s case might be, everything depended on the temper of the judge and jury, and possibly also of the counsel entrusted with the case; and that, even if one succeeded, there were always costs that could not be recovered from the other side, and the amount of these might outweigh any financial advantage that a favourable decision would, otherwise, bring. The other party might, too, prove to be a man of straw, in which case one would eventually have to pay all one’s costs in fighting him. His advice was never to take action* if it could possibly be avoided and, from what we knew of him, he had an amazing faculty of getting round, over or under a difficulty without going to the extreme length of taking process. It seems a biting commentary on the administration of justice in this country, but our solicitor’s view is so gaining ground among business men generally that lamentations from the Inns of Court are becoming frequent, and there are rumours from time to time of commissions that are to enquire into the matter and ascertain whether justice cannot be dispensed more cheaply, speedily, and certainly than it is at the present time. It is not, unfortunately, the happy fate of all of us to avoid litigation. An architect may, indeed, cut his losses over an unjust client, but if he happens to be sued over some matter connected with his work he cannot well compromise without possibly grave injury to his professional reputation and probity. And even if his defence succeeds, he may yet find the cost of establishing it almost ruinous. It behoves him, therefore, to take any reasonable precaution to prevent such a calamity, more especially as architects do not readily get justice in our law courts. Lawyers are pretty clear when it comes to their own charges for giving advice, but are not so certain about charges for advice given by men of other professions. Our memory goes back over many years, but we remember few cases in which architects recovered the fees to which they were entitled. Even when the client had agreed to payment on the R. I. B. A. scale, it has been more usual
for the judge to award a sum that he thought sufficient, probably only a fraction of what the unfortunate architect had a right to recover.
The dangers from litigation that beset architects may, however, now be provided against. The idea that Mr. Edmund Wimperis submitted to the Practice Standing Committee of the R. I. B. A., in 1913, has come to maturity in the formation of The Architects’, Engineers’ and Surveyors’ Defence Union, Ltd., and these classes of professional men come into line with members of the medical profession in having a defence union to watch over their interests. The bases of the protection afforded by the union is a policy of insurance taken out with the Cornhill Insurance Company; and the annual subscription from members has been fixed at £3 13s. 6d. It will be money well invested; but it is necessary to enable the Defence Union to secure the very valuable benefits outlined in the prospectus that it should have the co-operation and support of at least 1, 000 members per annum.
The architectural profession alone should be able to furnish several times this number, and we would strongly advise architects, therefore, to communicate with Mr. C. McArthur Butler, the secretary of the union, at 28 Bedford Square, W. C. l, for particulars of the scheme, which came into force on July 1. Few architects, however careful, can hope to escape legal difficulties that may arise through faults of contractors, use of bad material, etc., and insurance against such troubles should be as general as it is against fire, or for provision in old age, or for dependents at death.
London News
Last week brought two cheering pieces of news for lovers of London. The first was the announcement by the Minister of Health that the Government had decided to set up a Royal Commission, as requested by the London County Council, to examine the best method of preserving the squares and open spaces of Greater London. Cynics have had it that a Royal Commission is a Governmental method of shelving an awkward problem. But those who care for the amenities of the Empire’s capital may take heart, we think, from the fact that the Royal Commission is to enquire not into the question of whether or no the squares shall be preserved, but into the best method of doing so. And we can pay this tribute to the present Minister of Health, that in matters like town and regional planning, open spaces, and more seemly building, he has shown greater vision and breadth of mind than most of his predecessors; and is fully aware that a vast amount of building work does not
The ARCHITECT & BUILDING NEWS
July 8, 1927
Proprietors: Gilbert Wood & Co., Ltd.
Editorial, Publishing and Advertisement Offices:
Managing Director: William L. Wood
Rolls House, 2 Breams Buildings, London, E. C. 4. Tel.: Holborn 5708 Registered Office: Imperial Buildings, Ludgate Circus, London, E. C. 4
Principal Contents
The Architect and the Law page 47 London News....................................................................... 47, 48 Essays by the Way — III ............................................. 48, 49
Sketch at Biskra (Illustration)................................................ 49 Some New Manchester Buildings (Illustrations).................... 50-55
Professional Societies........................................................... 56 Competition Notes................................................................... 56 Corning Events......................................................................... 56 The Tradition of the Grand Manner (Illustrations)........... 57-59, 61 The Repair of Rural Cottages — II (Illustrations).................... 60 Maladies and Remedies — I: Efflorescence on Brickwork...... 62
House in Brockswood Lane, Welwyn Garden City
(Illustrations)...........................................................63-65 New Ways and Means (Illustrations)...................................... 66 The Architectural Association Exhibition of Students’
Work (Illustrations)..................................................67-69 Architects’ Registration Bill.................................................. 70, 72 Building News in Parliament.................................................. 72 London Building Notes........................................................... 74 The Week’s Building News................................................ 76, 84
Building Contracts Open.......................................................... 78 Building Tenders...................................................................... 80 Current Market Prices.............................................................. 82, 84 Current Measured Rates........................................................... 86, 88
The Architect & the Law
A solicitor, of the good old family type, once remarked to us, apropos of the law’s uncertainties, that if a man snatched his watch and bolted he would certainly run after the miscreant and endeavour to get his property back. But if the man had, in some devious way, got possession of the watch and challenged him to go to court to prove his ownership and recover the article, he would take no further steps in the matter. He adduced in support of his view the fact that, however good one’s case might be, everything depended on the temper of the judge and jury, and possibly also of the counsel entrusted with the case; and that, even if one succeeded, there were always costs that could not be recovered from the other side, and the amount of these might outweigh any financial advantage that a favourable decision would, otherwise, bring. The other party might, too, prove to be a man of straw, in which case one would eventually have to pay all one’s costs in fighting him. His advice was never to take action* if it could possibly be avoided and, from what we knew of him, he had an amazing faculty of getting round, over or under a difficulty without going to the extreme length of taking process. It seems a biting commentary on the administration of justice in this country, but our solicitor’s view is so gaining ground among business men generally that lamentations from the Inns of Court are becoming frequent, and there are rumours from time to time of commissions that are to enquire into the matter and ascertain whether justice cannot be dispensed more cheaply, speedily, and certainly than it is at the present time. It is not, unfortunately, the happy fate of all of us to avoid litigation. An architect may, indeed, cut his losses over an unjust client, but if he happens to be sued over some matter connected with his work he cannot well compromise without possibly grave injury to his professional reputation and probity. And even if his defence succeeds, he may yet find the cost of establishing it almost ruinous. It behoves him, therefore, to take any reasonable precaution to prevent such a calamity, more especially as architects do not readily get justice in our law courts. Lawyers are pretty clear when it comes to their own charges for giving advice, but are not so certain about charges for advice given by men of other professions. Our memory goes back over many years, but we remember few cases in which architects recovered the fees to which they were entitled. Even when the client had agreed to payment on the R. I. B. A. scale, it has been more usual
for the judge to award a sum that he thought sufficient, probably only a fraction of what the unfortunate architect had a right to recover.
The dangers from litigation that beset architects may, however, now be provided against. The idea that Mr. Edmund Wimperis submitted to the Practice Standing Committee of the R. I. B. A., in 1913, has come to maturity in the formation of The Architects’, Engineers’ and Surveyors’ Defence Union, Ltd., and these classes of professional men come into line with members of the medical profession in having a defence union to watch over their interests. The bases of the protection afforded by the union is a policy of insurance taken out with the Cornhill Insurance Company; and the annual subscription from members has been fixed at £3 13s. 6d. It will be money well invested; but it is necessary to enable the Defence Union to secure the very valuable benefits outlined in the prospectus that it should have the co-operation and support of at least 1, 000 members per annum.
The architectural profession alone should be able to furnish several times this number, and we would strongly advise architects, therefore, to communicate with Mr. C. McArthur Butler, the secretary of the union, at 28 Bedford Square, W. C. l, for particulars of the scheme, which came into force on July 1. Few architects, however careful, can hope to escape legal difficulties that may arise through faults of contractors, use of bad material, etc., and insurance against such troubles should be as general as it is against fire, or for provision in old age, or for dependents at death.
London News
Last week brought two cheering pieces of news for lovers of London. The first was the announcement by the Minister of Health that the Government had decided to set up a Royal Commission, as requested by the London County Council, to examine the best method of preserving the squares and open spaces of Greater London. Cynics have had it that a Royal Commission is a Governmental method of shelving an awkward problem. But those who care for the amenities of the Empire’s capital may take heart, we think, from the fact that the Royal Commission is to enquire not into the question of whether or no the squares shall be preserved, but into the best method of doing so. And we can pay this tribute to the present Minister of Health, that in matters like town and regional planning, open spaces, and more seemly building, he has shown greater vision and breadth of mind than most of his predecessors; and is fully aware that a vast amount of building work does not