INCREASED HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 48, 20 November 1907, Page 6

INCREASED HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION.

As a general practice the action of a retiring body of trustees of public money in committing their successors to a heavy expenditure is to be strongly deprecated, but the decision of the Wellington Hospital Trustees in this direction yesterday may be regarded as an exception to the rule. For a considerable time it has been recognised that the accommodation at, the present Hospital is inadequate for the ever-growing needs of the city and surrounding district, and this needed accommodation cannot be obtained without an extension of the existing buildings. The matter has been discussed at various times, and the trustees appear to be unanimously of opinion that there shpuld.be no further delay in putting the work in hand. It is unfortunate that this decision should have been arrived at on the eve of the retirement of the present trustees from office, but their action is obviously the outcome of a firm conviction of the pressing needs of the situation. A great many people have been refused admission to the institution during the past month, there not being accommodation for them, and this condition of things is likely to grow worse rather than better. In a large work of the kind proposed it will take some time to prepare the plans and come to a decision as to the most advantageous method of construction —the present idea being to erect the additions in sections as required—and if the preliminary steps had been left to the incoming'trustees it would have meant still further delay. Moreover, the step now decided»on goesVno further than the preparation of plans, and the new trustees will have ample opportunity to consider the matter before the work is put in hand. Under the circumstances, yesterday's action by tf.ie trustees should meet with general approval.