§ 17. Mr. KINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether engineers and assistant engineers of district boards in India are frequently designing works like public buildings and dwellings in which a knowledge of architectural design is required; and whether the rule which debars district boards from employing Indian master builders who are without academic training is so enforced as to prevent the employment of men who are, by practical experience, qualified to construct public works, but are being thrust aside for men who have academic training?
§ Mr. C. ROBERTSDistrict Board engineers are, it is believed, competent to design such comparatively simple buildings as they may be required to construct and the help of the Government architect can 1752 always be obtained. It would be contrary to economy and efficiency to relieve them of their duty in this respect and place the responsibility on persons whose professional qualifications have not been tested. But it may be assumed that the services of Indian master builders will not be neglected within the sphere in which they may be usefully employed.