NEW HOSPITAL BLOCK

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 35, 22 December 1944, Page 5

NEW HOSPITAL BLOCK

COST OF PLUMBING SERVICES

BOARD CRITICISES ESTIMATES

Considerable dissatisfaction at the? manner in which original estimates submitted by the architect for the new women's block at the Whakatane Hospital were at variance with! the tt'nders received was voiced by members at the board meeting last week. The main point was that for an estimated coslt of £2234 tenders ior the plumbing and drainage had been almost dbuble that figure thus throwing out thfc' Board's figure under the original application for the loan. The Mr A. Bridger, saiid that lie had discovered after considerable correspondence that the architect and the engineer had faile/d to compare notes on tlie position and thus there had been a consider-i able amount of overlapping. After a lot of trouble lie had eliminated tlie.se and a total retendering of the contract, had been made by a local plumber for the sum of £3468, which was still approximately £1000 in ex r ccss of the architect's figure. Board members Avere highly critical of the fact that the. figures upon which they had their loan had varied so much. The fact that the secretary reassured the board that |:l.ue to savings in other .directions it would not be necessary to extend tlie loan did not overcome the trenchant. remarks regarding the apparent oversights of professional men. Mr McCrcady demanded that strong measures should be taken but agreed that it would lie foolhardy to make any changes at the present. The Chairman Mr L. Buddie 9 9 agreed that the wisest plan was to carry on and to make possible adjustments later. Mr Mull ins enquired what the position was with regard to any enlargement of the loan in the event of other items being underestimated. He reminided the. Board that he would not be favourable to any iiv crcasc in that direction. Mr Caulficld said that he would make a similar stand, declaring that it was an astounding thing that such discrepancies could occur where professional men were concerned. The Chairman observed that it was extremely difficult these days to produce an accurate, estimate for any building materials in view of the fluctuating price and the shortage. of supplies-. The Board finally agreed that the tender of S. S. Shapley and Co. for the figure,- £3408 be accepted.