CO129-419 - Individuals - 1914 — Page 100

(3)

to me and I reported upon such as referred to in the

preceding clause.

I wish to make it quite clear that I had

nothing whatever to do with the selection of the

design Mr. Chatham was the Professional adviser to

the Government .

T

I submit that the real mistake was made in

appointing the Firm in question as Architects for the

work. Designs were submitted by this firm and others,

and such designs were submitted to a Committee of which

Mr. Chatham was Chairman. instead of to a qualified

Architect.

I venture to state that if the competition

drawings had been submitted to a recognised Architect,

as is usual in England, the award made in the year 1903

would have been different to that which was actually

made •

!

(5)

I could have wished for a more detailed re-

port than I have seen up to the present date, viz:-

that in the Public Press.

There were many matters that should have

been placed before the Committee, but I thought it best

not to aggravate a public scandal and lay bare facts

which might reflect upon a Government Department, and

I deemed it advisable to leave such matters to be dealt

with at a later date.

(6)

I will now briefly deal with the work under

review, having regard to the basis upon which it was

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