DELAY OPPOSED.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 903, 24 August 1910, Page 5

DELAY OPPOSED.

CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL .PLANS. EXTENSION OF ACCOMMODATION.. At the meeting.of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board yesterday, there was a lengtliy discussion on the following clause in the report of the. Hospital Committee:— "That, in view of the excess of funds that will be available for the Children's Hospital, as a result of the public subscription and subsidy thereon, over and above the original estimate of the cost of the building already designed, the chairman of tho Hospital Committee (Mr. R. C. Kirk) and Mr. ■ J. Trevor, the medical superintendent,' and the honorary' stall' be asked to confer with the architects (Messrs. Atkins and Bacon), with a view to the extension of ' accommodation and improvement in the design of the new building, and that a sketch of the amended plans be submitted by tho architects as soon as possible."

Mr. Trevor said there seemed to him. a general feeling that this committee should be enlarged, and that it should include men who knew something about plans and.buildings. Under the plans' submitted fifty beds would be provided for ,£IO,OOO. In the speaker's opinion seventy-iivc beds should be provided for the same amount.

Mr. Hindmarsh said he did not think the board should feel itself committed to plans already in hand, which had been accepted by the old board. This was a new board, and it should call for competitive designs, in order to get the very best building possible. He would move that the names of the architects be omitted from tho clause.

Air. Kirk, as chairman of tho Hospital Committee, reminded members that two years previously tho Hospital Trustees found themselves faced by the necessity of providing in the near future for extensions to the Wellington Hospital, including the Children's Hospital. Competitive designs wero then invited from architects throughout New Zealand for extensions to the present hospital, for a Children's Hospital, aud for an Ophthalmic Hospital, at a total cost not ,to exceed J3O.OUU. The designs received were submitted to a committee consisting of Dr. Valintine, Dr. nay, and the Government Architect,. Mr. Campbell. Of those who sent in designs, Messrs. Atkinson and Bacon were placed first," and Messrs. Grey, Young, and Penty, and Black second and third. These plans, included designs for.a new Children's Hospital. Several months ago the trustees, being desirous of .proceeding with the erection of the. Children's Hospital, referred the prize design to the 'medical superintendent, the architects,- and Dr. Valintine, with the result that separate plans of the Children's Hospital, approximately on tho lines of the old competitive plan, were drawn up and approved. These plans'on being laid before the Hospital Committee of the board two months ago were duly approved, and itwas then decided to 'ask the Mayor to call a public meeting to raise funds. The Rev. Van Staveren hoped there would bo no delay now that the money had been provided for the erection of a Children's Hospital. The amendment was lost on the voices. On the motion of the Rev. W. Evans, the name of the chairman was added to the clause as a member of tho committee.

Mr. Trevor said he would like to see a member or two on the committee who would endeavour to get a good substantial building, not too ornamental. With this in view, he proposed that Messrs. Lundon and Robinson be added to the committee.

The proposal lapsed - for want of ' a seconder. i ~ The clause, as amended, was carried'.