THE SOUTH AFRICAN ARCHITECTURAL RECORD THE JOURNAL OF THE TRANSVAAL, NATAL AND ORANGE FREE STATE PROVINCIAL INSTITUTES OF SOUTH AFRICAN ARCHITECTS AND THE CHAPTER OF SOUTH AFRICAN QUANTITY SURVEYORS. }< 1V Vol. XPH. No. 53. MARCH, 1929. CONTENTS. A D iscordant N o t e ........................................................................................................................................... p a g e 3 A p a t h y ................. ............................................ .............................. ............................................ ............... 4 A nglican C hurch A rchitecture in South A frica. By H. G. Tomkyns ............... 4— 11 N otes from an A rchitectural Student in Spain ................. ................. ................. ................ 15— 17 A nnual R eports : The Cape Provincial Institute ................. 1 8 - 2 0 The Natal Provincial Institute ... ... ••• .... ................. 20— 23 The O.F.S. Provincial Institute ................. 23— 25 The Transvaal Provincial Institute ................. 2 5 - 2 9 The Chapter of South African Quantity Surveyors ... ................. 29— 30 R eport by M r . R. H owden ................................................................................................................ ................. 31 T he T own P lanning A ssociation (Transvaal) .......................................................... ............................................ 32 - 33 N ew W esleyan C hurch, B loemfontein ........................... 33— 34 P rofessional N ews ........................... 35 - 36 R ecent B ooks ... ..: ................. 36 Modern Architecture. Academy Architecture. The Editor will be glad to consider any MSS., Photographs or Sketches submitted to him, but they should be accom­ panied by stamped addressed envelopes for return if unsuitable. In case of loss or injury he cannot hold himself respon­ sible for MSS-, Photographs or Sketches, and publication in the Journal can alone be taken as evidence of acceptance. The name and address of the owner should be placed on the back of all Pictures and MSS. The Association does not hold itself responsible for the opinions expressed by individual contributors. Annual Subscription per post 5s., direct from the Business Manager. Hon. Editor—Professor G. E. Pearse. Business Manager—A. S. Pearse. 67, Exploration Buildings, Commissioner Street, Johannesburg. P.0. Box 2266. ’Phone 5821. SALISBURY CATHEDRAL. Interior. THE SOUTH AFRICAN ARCHITECTURAL RECORD Vol. XH1. No. 53. MARCH, 1929. A DISCORDANT NOTE. Following upon the proceedings of the first Union Surely it would have been better to have awaited Congress of Architects and Quantity Surveyors, pub­ the full report of the Congress or at any rate to have lished in our last issue and which augured well for the obtained the consent of the Central Council before re­ future of our professions, a discordant note has been ferring in the Press to matters contained in th.eir con­ struck by the Cape Provincial Institute of Architects fidential minutes. The actions of the Central Council or rather by the members composing its Council, for to a large extent are in accord with the resolutions we cannot believe, in view of th.e expressions of taken at the Congress. opinion o f members from the Cape Province attending In view of the feeling generally expressed by those the Congress, that the action of their Council has the who attended, that the Congress was an unqualified unanimous support of the members of the Provincial success and the resolve that its proceedings should he Institute. fully reported, it seems unfortunate that the writer In the January issue of the Architect, Builder and should refer to the latter resolution as “symptomatic of Engineer appears an editorial criticising the Central a lavish, scale of expenditure which is as foolish and Council. vainglorious as it is unnecessary.” The Central Council, in our opinion, has acted This article contains in the first place a misrepre­ wisely in publishing a verbatim report of' this, the first sentation of fact and is likely to cause a good deal Congress, which should act as a stimulus to members of of misunderstanding and possibly dissension and ill feel­ our professions and, we hope, result in bringing forward ing amongst members of our professions throughout the at the proper time and place, helpful criticism and Union if it is allowed to pass unchallenged. assistance on many vexatious problems at present Healthy and constructive criticism, if given in the facing the Central Council. right spirit, is one of the most satisfactory means of This editorial we are informed has been followed by bringing about that unity of effort wh,ich was the aim a circular letter from the Cape Provincial Institute to of the professions in promoting the Architect’s and the other Provincial Institutes and the Chapter Quantity Surveyors’ Act, but criticism of this sort severely criticising the actions of the Central Council. appearing in a technical journal, and more especially Here again another most unfortunate discordant when that criticism is veiled in sarcasm, is not likely note has been struck by the Cape Provincial Institute to effect that unity or gain the respect oft the other which has representation on the Central Council and allied professions which this journal represents. which could surely have dealt with its grievances The writer refers at the outset to the “first regular through its representatives. congress at which delegates directly representing th.e The powers of the Central Council are clearly laid Provincial Institutes attended,” and then proceeds to down in the Act and Regulations and should these be refer to the minutes of a Central Council meeting exceeded in any way the proper course to pursue is for marked “Private and Confidential,” as being the result each Provincial Institute to make representations to the of the deliberations (of the Congress ?), and continues Central Council through its representatives. “a verbatim report of the proceedings is shortly to be Should these representations not receive the whole published! ” hearted support of all the Provincial Institutes and the This is followed by another statement which con­ Chapter it necessarily follows that one or other of the cludes with the words “ as for the idea of publishing Provincial Institutes must abide by the will of the the discussion in verbatim form—well, it is really almost majority. too ludicrous for comment.” It is quite evident that In this respect one feels that a plea should be put there is considerable confusion in the writer’s mind as forward in support of the Central Council which is a to the “Minutes of the meeting of the Central Council” very-fully representative body with a very uphill task and the “Verbatim report of the Congress.” to fight. A full report of its proceedings and resolu­ The former we are told were marked “ Private and tions should, in our opinion and as far as possible, be Confidential.” It seems unfortunate, therefore, that placed before the Provincial Institutes and Chapter at some member or members of the Council of the Cape th,eir Annual meetings, when fruitful discussions might Provincial Institute should have divulged their contents well result and a lead he given to the various repre­ for publication. sentatives on the Committees and Chapter. 4- THE SOUTH AFRICAN ARCHITECTURAL RECORD March, 1929. APATHY. A recent writer in The Architect’s Journal states been in office for many years have perforce to carry that “Societies and organisations, no less than the in­ on with little or no assistance or encouragement from dividuals who compose them, have their failings ; that of the large number of members constituting the Trans­ the Architectural profession is surely apathy. In our vaal Provincial Institute. opinion apathy should have been included among the Our Benevolent Fund is sadly in need of funds and seven deadly sins ; for is it not the mental equivalent little interest appears to be taken in it by the great of sloth., and are not sins of) the mind and spirit to be majority of members. more deprecated than those of the body ? ” Surely the time has arrived when we should bestir The apathetic attitude of members of the profes­ ourselves and take a greater interest in the activities sion in the Transvaal towards the various professional of our profession especially in the manifold changes activities is peculiarly noticeable. that are taking place in the various ramifications of A few years ago an attempt was made to com­ architectural and building practice ; in heating, lighting mence a series of' lectures on Architectural subjects, and ventilation ; in methods o f construction; in the The successful practice of Architecture to-day depends planning of all specialized types of buildings and their not only upon inspiration, but also upon knowledge, equipment; in the law relating to buildings. No in­ and in endeavouring to popularise the subject of dividual architect can keep abreast of all these changes Architecture it was also the intention of the promoters and of the rapid accumulation of knowledge, yet many of this scheme of “ refresher” courses to invite speakers might come forward and assist the profession with to deal with the various branches of science connected lectures or articles contributed to the Journal. It is with building. Owing to the apathetic attitude of the apathy, too, which, in our opinion, is partly responsible profession, however, the scheme was reluctantly allowed