ANTICIPATED WORK

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 24, 13 September 1946, Page 5

ANTICIPATED WORK

IMPROVEMENTS TO HOSPITAL

THE TEN-YEAR PLAN

A recent enquiry from the Health Department requested the Whakatane Hospital Board to furnish a list of nominal building undertakings which might be required during the next ten years. At yesterday’s meeting a list covering possible needs was tabled and widely discussed.

Explaining the matter further the chairman (Mr J. Mullins) said that he had recently been rung by the P.W.D. Engineer at Tauranga who explained that the whole idea behind the suggested scheme of proposed works was in order to have it included in the ten-year scheme which the P.W.D. was now in - the process of drawing up. There would be nothing taken from such list which would commit the Board financially in any way. • The list which would come under the heading of capital expenditure was as under:— 1. Nurses Home additions (30 rooms and 2 sitting rooms urgently required). 2. Chest Block. (Plans by Health Department) 3 Stqres Block. 4. Mortuary. 5. Administration block comprising (a) secretarial offices, (b) outpatients department, (c) laboratory, (d) massage department, (e) visiting specialists clinic. 6. Boiler House. 7. Additions to Laundry. 8. Additional General Ward. 9. Anti-Natal Clinic. 10. Accommodation for Porters and Domestic Staff. 11. Residence for Assistant. 12. Residence for Secretary. 13. Two other residences.

Commenting on the above the chairman said that the Nurses’ Home headed the list, as he felt that this extra accommodation would be necessary in the very near future. “The position has considerably altered since we first took office,” said Mr Mullins. “We had then the unpleasant duty of spending money against the ratepayers views. We have tried to keep down the expenditure and I think we have succeeded. But now that'the financial position has altered, I feel that we are now in duty bound to heed the requirements of the district.” Mr McGougan agreed. Mr McCready warned that although Government relief had cut the rate in half, it only required a revaluation and up would go the rate to something approaching its old figure. He quoted properties in the Tauranga County which had gone up from 75 per cent, to 125 per cent. On top of this he warned that the Catchment Rate would require as much money in 12 months as the Hospital Board required in 12 years. He- was strongly supported in his views by Mr F. Burt.

The chairman said that the reduction was just on half of the old rate and he felt in spite of Mr McCready’s statement, that they now had a little lee-way to work on. Last year they had been sailing close to the wind. Today the position was easier and he felt that even if the rate did go up it could not come anywhere near the old figure. The point was that the hospital had to be kept going and if these amenities were needed in order to do this, then there was no other alternative but to supply them.

The Board decided to forward on tlie list as tabled on the distinct understanding that the Board was not financially committed in any way.