The Cotman Collection | 123

Cotmania. Vol. VI. 1930-31

Archive: SDK Sydney Decimus Kitson Archive
Reference Number: SDK/1/2/1/6
Page:


  • Description

    Architectural Newspaper articles from the Yorkshire Post

    Architectural Newspaper articles from the Yorkshire Post, 6.2.1931

    Date: 1930-31

  • Transcription

    Co-operation between municipal authori­ties and the architectural profession was a
    subject of several of the speeches at the
    annual dinner of the West Yorkshire
    Society of Architects, held last night at
    the Great Northern Hotel, Leeds. Mr.
    Norman Culley, of Huddersfield. President
    of the Society, occupied the chair.

    The toast of the Royal Institute of
    British Architects, the West Yorkshire
    Society of Architects, and other allied
    societies was proposed by Mr. Gerald C.
    Veale. who, referring to the Registration
    Bill, said it seemed to him that it was a
    matter of real importance, because, whilst
    membership of their ereat Institute was
    necessarily and obviously the hall-mark of
    an architect's qualifications, it was, as far
    as he knew, possible for him and any other
    incompetent person to put a brass plate on
    the door and announce to the world that,
    they were carrying on the profession of
    architects. There was no doubt that the
    profession not only demanded great skill
    but also imposed upon those practising it
    a sense of very real responsibility, and it
    was a matter of real importance to the
    public at large.

    The people owed a debt to architects
    that they could never repay, but they
    asked that the debt should be increased.
    We lived in an industrial age, and there
    never was a time when beauty in form
    and outline was more necessary. Why
    should there be slums at all? Why should
    there be those red brick abortions which
    spoiled our cities and desecrated the
    countryside ? W as it too much to hope
    that, at a time when social services were
    being ministered to with an orgy of expenditure that had never been known, mem­bers of their profession should be given
    the direction of what had hitherto been
    given to the jerry builder?

    "SMOKE MEANS BRASS."
    Mr. Henry M. Fletcher (vice-president
    of the Royal Institute of British Archi­tects), who took tho opportunity of congratulating Leeds upon its admirable
    school of architecture, and Mr. Addison,
    the head of tho school, upon the award to
    him of the R.I.B.A. Athens bursary,
    responded to the toast.

    Turning to the work of the modern archi­tect, particularly in relation to industrial
    centres, Mr. Fletcher said he thought the
    slogan "Smoke means Brass"—which was
    probably invented in "Lancashire or some
    of those outlying districts"—ought to be
    amended. Smoke was waste of brass. It
    was responsible for illness, which caused
    doctors' fees; transport fees, through
    delay; and exaggerated laundry bills. And
    it meant inefficient fuel. It led to depres­sion, and loss of working hours. " If you
    care about civilisation, give more power to
    the architects," he added.

    The Chairman, who also responded, said
    they were endeavouring in West Yorkshire
    to create a knowledge and lovo of architec­ture, particularly in some of the cities and
    towns where, it might appear, some of the
    eminent citizens had never known of
    Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome.

Architectural Newspaper articles from the *Yorkshire Post*