HOSPITAL BUILDING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20919, 20 October 1942, Page 5

HOSPITAL BUILDING

additional cost NEW WANGANUI WARDS “I suppose we have nothing else to do but go on with the job,” commented the chairman, Mr. W. £. Broderick, when the architect, Mr. C. N. Hood, reported to the Wanganui Hospital Board at the monthly meeting that an additional £15,000 would be required for the new chronic wards of 60 beds which are to be constructed at the Jubilee Home, Aramoho. Mr. Hood submitted a schedule of quantities and prices which he said had been carefully checked. A loan ot £30,000 has already been raised for this work and Mr. Hood estimated the cost at £450 a bed, the estimate for the actual building construction being £29,220 19s. Since the original estimates were framed sales tax had increased by 10 per cent, and the cost of hardware had risen by 15 to 33 per cent. Mr. Hood said a supplementary loan would be required for the boiler house at the Jubilee Home, also furnishings, architects’ fees, clerk of works’ salary, improvements to the grounds and alterations to the existing building. “I would like the board to realise that it is impossible to give an accurate forecast, but it looks as though we shall need another £15,000,” said Mr. Hood. “It is impossible to estimate 12 months ahead, but that is what we are trying to do." The chairman: It will'cost another £SOOO on top of that before we are finished.

In reply to a question as to where the money was coming from, the chairman said £25,000 would come from the ratepayers and £25,000 from the Consolidated Fund. Mr. Hood said the actual increase on the building was only £6OOO, accounted for by wages and materials. Several items in the latest estimate were not included in the original programme. These made up the balance of the £15,000. The Board instructed Mr. Hood to take steps which would ensure a start being made with the work as soon as possible.