Institution's comments to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government on the proposed (fifth) amend

Mr. C. B. Stone, DSO, BSc(Eng), FICE, will take office as President of the Institution 1969-70 on 2 October next and will give his Presidential Address at a meeting at 6 pm that evening at l1 Upper Belgrave Street, London SWI.

Mr. M. H. Rees: 'This is an extremely interesting structure and I have really just three questions out of the very numerous thoughts that have occurred to me, mostly concerned with the staging of prestressing and the adjustment of arch thrust on decentering. Both of these go to make tools invaluable to the designer in making large span concrete structures economic.'

Mr. F. C. Greenfield : ‘The design-or examination of another’s design - of a modern structure calls for “professional excellence” comparable with any other of man’s skills; it is high time the layman was aware of this. Legislation is badly needed to ensure that the public are protected through structural design, examination of structural design (on behalf of the local authority) and also supervision on site-all under the direction of Chartered Engineers recognised in their profession for their skill in this field. Local authorities should ascertain that they have the necessary professional excellence in their staff; if they do not they should either attract the right men or engage Consulting Engineers-or do both. For those who rely entirely on their own staff, full responsibility must be shouldered by the engineer-Chief Officer.'