FROCEEDINGS OF SECTION H. 561 



Professor Ware, of New York, goes a step further, and says: — 



" That for a pupil to reach the full benefit of his time 

 in an office he should, as soon as possible, find himself set 

 to practical work, and work of that sort in a busy age 

 could hardly wait for one who spent a considerable portion 

 of his time in abstract study. After his class work was 

 once completed, his powers would be so strengthened 

 thereby as to allow of his entering upon office work with an 

 intelligence unknown to the ordinary pupil of the present 

 day." 



It is most gratifying that the universities are taking up the ques- 

 tion of the higher and more academic education in architecture — 

 as they have done for so long, and so successfully, in engineering. 

 Why one of the sister professions should have lagged so far behind 

 the other it is difficult to say. The State Governments have prac- 

 tically monopolized the engineering work of Australia, and so 

 retarded, to a great extent, the establishment of private engineer- 

 ing offices in which youths can be trained. As regards the practice 

 of architecture, the same conditions hold only in a much smaller 

 degree, and the existence of numerous and highly equipped private 



offices gives more opportunity for training. 



« 



As regards State works departments and their architects' 

 branches, during, and after twenty years' experience in the ad- 

 ministration of one of them, notwithstanding the large amount of 

 high quality work passing through, I came to the conclusion that, 

 while I required efficient and well-trained assistance, neither I nor 

 my senior officers had the time or incentive for training cadets to 

 supply this, and that it was better for the service that its officers 

 should first have the more rough-and-tumble experience of private 

 offices and the academic teaching of the university and technical 

 school, before they came upon the salaried list of the Department, 

 where they were necessarily expected to give experienced and quali- 

 fied services in return. I may not be agreed with in this matter, 

 but I do not think I am far out, for, while a departmentally- 

 trained youth becomes a useful ordinary officer, it is the draughtsman 

 of the private office and of outside training who is of greater value. 



For some years past the Sydney University has provided for 

 students the advantage of a lecturer in architecture, and now it 

 is going a step further, and providing in the near future a school 

 of architecture. I believe Melbourne University is doing the 

 same, and as those of other State capital cities grow in wealth 

 and opportunity it is hoped they too will become centres for the 

 higher and technical training of the architect, and thus without 

 doubt equip him for the successes to be gained in a registered 

 profession. 



