HOSPITAL ESTIMATES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 369, 1 June 1928, Page 14

HOSPITAL ESTIMATES

APPROVED AFTER REDUCTION INFECTIOUS DISEASES BLOCK (Special to THE SUN) HAMILTON, Thursday. The Minister of Health, the Hon. J. A. Young, states that he has approved, subject to amendments, the estimates of the Auckland Hospital Board for its proposed new infectious diseases block and additions to the Epsom Infirmary. The Minister said that while in Auckland he interviewed the chairman and other representatives of the Hospital Board so that the original proposal for authority to spend £40,000 on an infectious diseases block had been reduced to £33,000. The £7OOO, which it was proposed to spend on a laundry and plant at the. Epsom Infirmary, has also been reduced to*£ 4,500. The Minister said he had advised the, chairman of the board on May 23 that he had approved the estimates, subject to the reduction of the amount on account of the infectious diseases block by at least £6,500, and in the event of the infirmary laundry being proceeded with, a further saving of £I,OOO should be effected in connection with this work. This approval, explained the Minister, would not reduce the levy and the subsidy for the current year, but would reduce them by the amount of the interest and sinking fund charges on the board’s share of the £7,500 saved. The Minister explained that his formal approval of the estimates did not necessarily mean that when the board applied for permission for detailed expenditure the application would receive the unqualified approval of the department.