NEWTOWN SCHOOL

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 94, 17 October 1940, Page 8

NEWTOWN SCHOOL

USE AS HOSPITAL

"DEFINTOLY UNSUITABLE"

COUNCIL'S OPINION

The City Council last night placed on record its opinion that the upper floor of the old Newt'owr; School is unsuitable for use as an extension of the Public Hospital. The City Engineer, Mr. K. E. Luke, stated that he had discussed; the proposal with Superintendent C. A... Woqlley, of the Wellington J Fire _ Board; both ..were agreed rthat .the fire risk in such a building was .great. .•

The chairman Of the bylaws, committee, Councillor •M. F. Luckie,; said that the Hospital Board, had asked the council for its * consent to the use of the upper floor of the old school, though as a matter of fact it could proceed with its proposal whether,the council agreed; or not. He thought that, however tihat might be, the council should refuse consent and should place itself clearly on record in'the matter. The City Engineer had strongly advised, agaisnst the granting "of conser.t. '

Councillor R. A. .Wright said that he did not want io go against the advice of the City Engineer, but the Hospital Board would be very seriously embarrassed unless it could get more accommodation -in the meantime.

The council; should be- very careful about granting temporary permits, for their experieiice had been that temporary buildings :becanie permanent, said Councillor A.." Black. Should a fire occur in such a building used for hospital purposes'the patients would not have a.hope of escape. -

.Councilloi" Wright: Could not the board putin fire escapes?

Councillor R. McKeen, M.P.: I don't think the council should place themselves under the obligation of being responsible for what might happen. Whether we approve or not, the Government can still utilise the building as they like, but we should put ourselves on record.

The building, he said, would have been pulled down long ago had it'not been for its use during the Exhibition as a children's hospital and various temporary uses since then. He^ suggested that the council and the Hospital Board should discuss some arrangement whereby the board should take over the Newtown Library, which, was too large for its purpose, taking it over at a, fair valuation, the purchase price being applied to the building of a new and smaller library. The city had had one recent experience of a loss of life from fire, said Councillor Luckie; they did not want to have such a reproach levelled against the council. I BOARD HARD PRESSED. Councillor W. J. Gaudin, who is a member of the Hospital Board, said that the board was not desirous of using the school- building, but pro- " posed to do so ooily under pressure because the hospital itself was-, so overcrowded. The hospital authorities, he could say certainly, would not use; the [building unless it were properly equipped with ' fire escapes, for they I were not going to put patients in a death-trap. They were already using the ground floor for patients for whom there .was not room., elsewhere. . If the' board was so desperately pressed, said the Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. :Hislop, the refusal of the council might mean that unless more accommodation was available people in need of treatment would be turned away, but the council should not take any responsibility for what the board might do. The bylaws provided clearly that when a two-storeyed bViilding was used ifor 'hospital purposes, fire-resisting materials must be used, said Councillor Luckie. The City Engineer had stated that the Newtown School did not comply with the bylaw at all. Councillor L.' McKenzie: We allowed the building to be, used for the accommodation of children ten years of age. Councillor W. Duncan: They were not upstairs. The Hospital Board are responsible people Councillor Luckie: Because they make a mistake, are we to follow on? Mr. Luke said that Mr. Woolley agreed fully with him that'the 35-year-old wooden building was definitely not suitable for use as a hospital:

Mr. Hislop: That being so, if the Hospital Board is going to use the building it must be in a desperate situation.

Councillor Luckie: It only shows that some other steps should, be taken to meet a desperate position^

■ ,The. council did not give its approval. ■,•;. ___________'