HOSPITAL IMPROVEMENTS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 60, 28 March 1944, Page 5

HOSPITAL IMPROVEMENTS

PROPOSED NEW LOAN

MODIFICATION IN PLANS

NECESSARY

SCHEME TOO COSTLY

Tenders received 1 by the Whakatane Hospital Board for the building of a new women's ward, additions to the main hospital, kitchen, a new tutorial block, and major additions* to the nurses home--in short the ; whole of the new building scheme as set out previously, have been well in excess of the estimated figures (£45,000) and! as a( result it has been agreed to effect a compromise and build within the original estimate, by modifying the original specifications. The tenders which were received by the Board were as under: Messrs Boon, Sullivan and Luke (Whakatane) £19,129, Frankton Associated Builders Ltd. (£51,016) and Williamson Construction Co. (Christchurch) £53,489. W r ith the engineering services and equipment it was anticipated. that the total cost, would bring the lowest tender (B.S.L.'s) up to £00,000. Jn view of the proposed loan being only £15,000 and tire architect's estimate £42,000, the Board was faced with a problem of major proportions, and a series ol' meetings have been held recently in order to deal with it.

After being adjourned for a week the architcct, Mr R. Natuseh, of Napier, waited on the Board to report on the position. It was decided as a result of this, meeting to defer further consideration until March (5 in order to allow the architect to investigate the figures of. the lowest tenderer and endeavour to reduce the estimate by substituting materials which were less costly to Whakatane. At this meeting the architcct reported on a possible reduction along these lines, of £5236. It Avas then apparent, that the Board's full programme could not be gone on Avitli, Avithout raising a greater loan, and it was- therefore decided to authorise the chairman (Mr L., Buddie) and secretary (Mr A. Bridger) to go to Wellington and interview the Minister of Health and Departmental Officers Avith regard to alternative proposals—i.e.. (1) A new women's ward, (2) alterations and additions to the main kitchen, (3) tutorial block, (4) alterations to mii'scs home to include only Matron's quarters, kitchen and dining room, (5) acquire accommodation for nurses. As a result of, this, trip and conference. Avitli the. Minister and Departmental officers, the amended specifications were draAvn up substituting Avhcre possible materials which AA'OUld not reduce the quality of the buildings but Avere cheaper to use in this part of the. country. At the last meeting on March 20 the lowest tenderers (Messrs Boon. Sullivan and Luke) submitted a new tender based on the amended specifications amounting to £.15,710, which together with engineering services and equipment is estimated to reach a total of £41.000. which is Avi thin the Board's proposed loan. The Board decided to accept the figure subject to Ministerial consent. It is understood that since the above meeting, Mr C. H. McCrcaily has filed a notice of motion indicating his intention to move a motion rescinding the nboA*e decision and rejecting the new proposal.