FEILDING MATERNITY HOME LOAN REFUSED

Chronicle (Levin), 17 September 1946, Page 7

FEILDING MATERNITY HOME LOAN REFUSED

Hospital Board To Approach Minister SERIOUS POSITION AT LEVIN DISCUSSED On the grounds that tkc plans submitted to tlicm by tlie Palmerston North Hospital Board wero lavish and iineconomical, the Loeai Uoverument Loans Board lias refused to approve au ap'plication 1'or a ioan of £45,000 for the construetion of a new maternity home at Peildijig. This was revcaled to a uieeting of Ihe Palmerston North Ilospital Board yesterday. Ihe letter froiu the ioans boani stated tluit in reaching this deeision it v\as guided by tcchiiicai reports whieh indicated that it was cOnsidered that the geueral lavout of ihe structure "was not economical and tlie estimate totally inadequate for tlie area- and type of construction involved." It suggsted that the plans and estiniates be revised for resubmission #o tlie board, but that before doing so the matter be discussed witli the Uovcrnment architeet and an otiicer of the Health Department.

the teehmeal comments contamed in the letter stated: I "(1) Many of Ihe room sizes con.sidI erabiy exveed tlie area nonnally provid- | od and Ihe whole la\out appears to oe ! on a soniewlrat lavisli seale. j " {-) Although thorough strueturai i e.vaniiiiation lias not been niade of the i proposal, there lias been sutlieient in- , vesligalion to imlicate tjiat Jiere, again, ; cousideraiile reduclion in costs can be j en'ccted. Tlie foundation sizes appear , excessi.ve and uuless extreniely pooi ! ground conditions are cxperieneed, it j should be possible to obtain a reduction | of at least 115 por cent. to the existing ; concrete qnantities by decreasiug botii i widtli and depth, Many of tlie inlernat • concrete wall.s are not necessary strucj turally and couid i;e repiuved by eitlier : timber or lightweight block construc- : i ioii. These could be supported upon tlie ground tlour slab and conseqm'ntly ' tlie foimdation dwarf wall.s, as shown, could be eliiuinated. Although concrete roof slab is desirable from a structur'u point of view, for a building of this lype whare adequate cro.ss walls are provide . and of single storey, it is not essentia' A inore econoiuicul for m of const ruclioi would be the adoption of a timbei franied and tiled roof. i "(oi The brick veneer lias uo st nn* iturul value, onlv ci'oating additionai [costs, and can onlv be termed as ai. i architectural consideration witli its at j temlunt increase in gemiral cost. It i. i cousidered that in (his case, wlien j there are no adjacent buihlings whiel; 1 may dictate the forrn of architecture t;- ! oliiain uniformity. the desjgu of the e.\ , terior could be niade equally eil'ectivi i Ly applying plaster !inish direct to tlu | concrety surface. This method wouhi allow for eeouoniy of construction witli out detriment to the architectural np jiearanee. ' ' The managing secretarv, l\Ir. A. .7. Pliillipps, said that ihe room areas re ferred to coni'ormed to the hest Englisli standards bttsed on iuformat ion in th hands of tlie Health J)epartiiient, lnr, wliieh thi1 departmeut did not choose ti, j iiso. The danger of lighiweight rooling • had been shown in the ease of tlie lire j at the Invercargill liosjiital. 'J'lie board had always adojited a building policv 1 of permancncy and safety. The cnti cism was weak in his opinion, but ln | tliouglit further discussion witli ihe! oflicers conceruod wa not wortli while ! ! "Are we prepared 1o g() ,lmvn t, j , tliese shoddy building standards?" |u : asked. "Witli our low niaintenanc- j costs we ha ve the liflh Iowest hospita { rating in Xew Zealand. 1 atn sure Iha I tive or six-inch concrete walls are no i wai erp roof. ' ' 1 Tlie lioard's arcliitect, ,\|r, (J. ca| : lendor, stated thal concrete walls crack | ed more easily tlian some olher sub ! j

stances and that it was not possible in that case to keep the niois'ture out. " Is it beeause Peildrng was solecteo for this particular purpose tliat all this j trouble lias arisen, " asked .Mr. \' j Bmitli. "There lias been liotliing bu. , delavs siuee the projiosal came forwaro j tliree years ago. Never before in aa\ J experience of hospital building ha there been such delav. Jt is ihe mos. dislieartenhig business I have ever ha., to deal witli. I am heartily sick of tluwliole job. I don 't know wltose fauli tlie delav is. ilaybe we should rub tlu whole thing oll" tlie slate. Tlie delav and exeuses timo after tiine, niontli after month, are beyond the understanding of the people of Feilding.' said il r. BmitJi, Feilding ropresenluti ve. Mr. J. Boyce: Hoes tlie letter say liow mucli they think they'll save wifh this lightweight buildings -Mr. A. J. Gimblett: It is timo, the board took a lirm stand and approacheu tlie matter from a diJl'ereiit angle. Mr. J. A. Xash: We are not being helped by oue pori ion of the department. If we sit as a eominittee we will not get very far. We must go as a commit tee and intei view the Ministei and the t ivo' ollieers of tlie department concerned, and ask the Minister if liwants the home erected or not. The whole situation is heartbreaking, Tlie people of Feilding are upset and llaere mai Maternity Home is far too smail We have stated that the Levin hormwill be proceeded witli as soon as Ihe Feilding home is liuished, but nov. Feilding is again lield up. Mr. Fhillipps said that a deputation to the Minister should point out timi the board couhl take. no responsibilit_\ for the situation in Feilding in tlie neai future. It. had done its best to get tlupro.ject moving. Tiie position at llaere mai Maternity Iloine was desjierutei?. acule. "We tiro putting up the Feilding maternity home at the request of the department — it is not a suggestion Oi t ihe boa.rd 's. ' ' lie concluded. Mr. (J. A. Monk .-aid tliat he ivas de fmitely of the opinion tliat a deputation from the board should approach the Minister and point out tlie obstucles in I its way. He had every svmpathy foi Feilding for what had hapjiencd there, but tlie responsibility must lie tlirovvn On the department. The situation was very grave at Levin. Tlie board stood squarely beliind Mr. Huiilli aliout tlu liappening at Feilding, but whai liap (lened there must not be allowed to take ' piave at Levin. Mr. (limblett agreed that the posi ti oi I at Levin was desperate. Mr. Smith said he realised the ilelax i was not tlie fault of the board but llui; ! of "someone in Wellington." ! Alr. Xash: Wlicn this deputation goe j before tlie Minister, there must In ! nlain si>eakini". It wmihl ln, hkpIiic, f

igoing there, otherwise. ' ! It was resolved that a deputation I consisling of Messrs J. A. Xash, J ' Hodgens. M.F., (t. A. Monk. \'. Sniilli ili. ('alleiider (arcliitect to the Boanbi jarul Ihe iiiunaging secretarv (Mr. A. .1. ; Fliillipps) wai t oi: the Minister o! i Health. Hnn. A. II. Xordmever, to jstraighten out the trouble that hau : arisen. It was also resolved that it l>o i asked that tlie oflicers of the Health Department concerneil witli the projoc.i be also asked to attend tlie discussioii witli the Minister. Appeal From Levin A letter from the Levin branch of the Laliour l'arty urged yesterday's meet ing of tlie Falmerston Xorlli Hospitai j Board to atteiupl to pusli the erection ' of tlie proposed Levin Maternity Home. 'I " We are not approac.hiug this matter 4 in a political sense, but as a social iirob- ' J lem aml in the interests of thoso niosl jj coricerned— Ihe inolliers and babies, ' ') the let ter stated. " We fully realise Ih-.'M difticulties in the way of erecting such buildings at Ihe juesent time. Bhouhi ! there lie auy furtlier deluy in carrving : out Ihe present plans we trust tliat th" boanl will meet aiiy enu'rgfMic v that j niay arise by opening temporury nccuni i niodat ion to meet the situation." j After it was pointod out by inenibers j oi tlie board tliat if had been prouiisei! j that the Levin Maternity Home would ! have priority after tlie 'Feilding home, ■ it was decided that the whole niattef ! rested with tlie speely erection of ihe home at Feilding. It was resolved that j this matter be brought up to the Mimi ister oi Health (liou. A. H. Xordmoveri l wlien a deputation from tlie board wuil-'j upon Ii i in in connec.tion with the Feihl j ing Maternity Home.