Presidential Address. 45 



with regard to the general laying out of the whole town, based 

 mainly upon effecting the utmost possible economy in the sub-division 

 of the land, so that every square yard of it shall be made directly 

 revenue producing, and shall fetch the highest price in the market. 



I do not mean for a moment to say that the above description of 

 the way not to build up a fine city, is the path followed by the 

 Municipal authorities of this community, or that of Durban, but I 

 am quite sure you will agree with me that a good deal goes on in 

 the various directions I have indicated. 



On account of business considerations, this is, I think, unavoid- 

 able, to a certain extent, in a young Colonial town, but on the other 

 hand, does not the sound old proverb, " train up a child in the way 

 he should go, etc.," apply in these cases to a large extent? 



Municipalities have of late years exercised a much keener criti- 

 cism and control over new buildings, and intelligent work bestowed 

 in this direction is becoming productive of good results in many of our 

 towns. But this criticism and control might be productive of much 

 better results, if building inspectors were in all cases given a higher 

 ofiicial standing, and were invariably chosen from the ranks of gentle- 

 men qualified for the position by thorough architectural training. It 

 would cost a little more to provide adequate remuneration, but would 

 be money well and profitably spent. I consider that no one has a 

 right to erect a building within the Municipal boundaries of a town, 

 which he intends shall contribute to his personal profit, without at 

 the same time being required, within reasonable limits, to contribute 

 by his building to the architectural beauty of the town. 



This brings me to the point at which I am aiming, viz. — whether 

 architects of experience and standing in the country, could not be 

 called upon to assist the various Municipalities in the general laying 

 out and arrangement of the towns, as a whole, as well as in their 

 individual buildings ; whether, in fact, these Municipal bodies could 

 not, as they do in some American cities, and in some of the large 

 cities in Europe, avail themselves more of the experience and artistic 

 endowments of the members of the architectural profession practising 

 in their midst, to guide them in at least many of the works of exten- 

 sion and improvement, which from time to time they have to deal 

 with in the building up of what we believe will, in the future, become 

 great and populous cities. 



I would draw attention to the urgent and special need there is 

 for such action on the part of the authorities, in connexion with the 

 squalid buildings, and even streets, which are growing apace, owing 

 to the license which is extended to the Indian population in 

 some of our towns to build apparently as and what they like. 

 The Indian may be a British subject, and have equal rights to 

 protection and consideration with ourselves, but all the more reason 

 therefore why he should be prohibited from poisoning and dis- 

 figuring our Colonial towns by the creation of every sort of mean 

 and squalid Kafifir-store and trading den, which his necessities 



