HOSPITAL BUILDING

Levin Daily Chronicle, 8 October 1918, Page 1

HOSPITAL BUILDING

■ .1 ■ — TENDERS ACCEPTED FOR £37,260. (Manawatu, Timee) Tlie chairman of the Hospital Board briefly reviewed the position in. regard to the Hospital scheme, and placed the matter fully before - the Hon. W. 6. Russell at last meeting, with a view to inducing the Minister to make a larger grant to cover the cost of the entire building. The increased cost was due to trade disorganisation incidental to war conditions. "We must have more room," said Sir James Wilson, and we want you to meet us." The Minister said he was quite satisfied that the end of the war -was much nearer than when he had considered their proposals last week. "Directly peace is declared, " said Hon: Eussell, "I think there will be a substantial easing in the cost of materials required. There are vast quantities of produce being stored in New Zealand, and which mil be needed in Great Britain, and ships -will be bringing out goods as well as troops and taking home the produce. The munition factories in. England will also be diverted to industrial manufacturing as soon as the war is over, and goods will fall in price very soon." After discussing various schemes, the Minister decided to increase the loan up to £40,000, to cover the cost of the whole building scheme, with the exception of one ward, and in reference to this, the Defence Minister was to bo approached to contribute one-third of the cost (up to £4000), the Board to provide one-third, and the Health Department to find one-third, the ward to be used for soldiers. It was, decided to -accept the tender of Mr F. Trevor, of £37,260 for the whole scheme, with a provision that a reduction of £0000 for the large ward and £1.300 for the small ward be deducted in case these two wards were not erected, but if within six months it was decided to go'on with the whole scheme, the original tender of £37,260 to be adhered to.