WHARERANGI CONTRACT LET AT LAST

Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 62, 6 August 1974, Page 1

WHARERANGI CONTRACT LET AT LAST

Ihe contract for work on the Wharerangi Old Peoples Home has finally been signed — and work is to begin next Monday. At a specsal meeting at Dover House on Friday Salvation Army officials and representatives of F. G. Mahy Ltd signed the documents. The contract price, which has been approved by the Health Department, is not being disclosed.

r The completion date for alterations and extensions to Dover House has been $et at March 31, 1975. The project has been a "live" issue since February, 1972. The chairman of the Wharerangi Advisory Board, Mr O. S. Hintz, said that when the board was xfirst established the members had been told the average length of time required to get an old

people' s home approved and operating was three years. "We refused to believe it. We felt that, with the existing premises, we would be functioning in a much shorter time," he said. "In our very early approaches to the Government we arranged for the Dover House premises to be inspected by the chief architect of the Health Department and by officers

of the Valuation Department and the MWD. "All three. reports were highly favourable and encouraged us still further in our hopes for early operation." At that stage it had become necessary for the board to select an experienced welfare organisation to control and manage the home. "We chose the Salvation Army which from the very

outset has shown itself just as keen as the board to get the home ready for its first residents," said Mr Hintz. "It was certainly no fault of the Salvation Army that delays occurred. "The necessary official requirements had to be met, since no permit for the operation of an old pedple's home can be obtained without departmental approval." It had to be conceded ll that substantial Govern- ! ment grants were involved = and that therefore the | Health Department had to | be satisfied that public = money would be spent in l accordance with lerms and | conditions officially deter- = mined. = After its initial investi- = gations the board acted in | a purely advisory capaeity, | apart from fund raising, land was unable to expedite | official decisions, although | it made whatever represent- | ations where possible. = The board had been jjgreatly assisted by the past =1 I I I I I I I | | 1 | 1 | | | l | | | , | , | , | i | , | | | | | | | | | , | | (| | | , , ( | j , , , . - , - |

Wharerangi contract let at last

I . and present members of Parliament for Taupo, Mrs Rona Stevenson and Mr J. W. Ridley, and also the Mayor of Taupo, Mr C. S. Currie, who was most active in pressing for an early start, said Mr Hintz. Mr Currie has been our champion," said Mr Hintz when witnessing the signing of the contract. ' "Time lost has not been time wasted. "The appeal for funds has raised more than $25,000 for the furnishing and equipment of the home, and profits from the continued operation of Dover House for public accommodation has also been earmarked for the Wharerangi fund." As a result, practically all the furniture and equipment required has been ordered, supplied and placed in storage at prices considerably below those now ruling. "One local critic has suggested that delay would not have occurred if the board had selected vacant land and built an entirely new home," he said. "According to the best advice available, delays would still have occurred and the site would probably have been far less advantageous." The location of Wharerangi on flat land within easy distance of the town shopping centre, the lake shore and public reserves was in every way ideal, said Mr Hintz. The Salvation Army had since bought the two adjoining properties on either side of, Doyer House and the board would certainly be consulted if future extensions to Wharerangi

were contemplated. "The board is satisfied that the home, as designed by Mr Graham Cooper, and under the sympathetic management of Captain and Mrs Duffell, will meet a very real community need and would fully justify the generous support that it has received from the people of Taupo," he said. Signing on behalf of the Salvation Army, Commissioner E. Elliott said that it was a great privilege that the army could enter into this activity in Taupo. The architect, Mr Cooper, said it had been a long, hard struggle. "It has meant many trips to Wellington to the Salvation Army and the Health Department and I am pleased that we have finally seen the fruit of all this," he said. "The home will house 30 old people and in the future we hope it will grow into a useful and worthwhile complex." There had been many frustrations involved in negotiations over Wharerangi, the Mayor, Mr Currie, said. "The public have shown the right spirit from the beginning and $20,000 was raised very quickly," he said. "But I am very disappointed with local builders." The Press and media were also to be congratulated for keeping Wharerangi before the public and providing good information about the progress of negotiations. Mr T. J. Hibbitt raised a question about the specific . function of an old people's home. "There have been suggestions in the Press that perhaps the home should take geriatric patients from the hospital," he said. "It is not the Health Department's policy to

allow this." Mr Hintz said an old people's home was licensed by the department to deal

with the care and comfort of old people who were still physically able. "Geriatric patients are

hospital cases and it will not be the function . of Wharerangi to deal with them," he said.

If an old person became ill at the home they would be looked after as long as possible before being sent

to hospital — but their place would be assured at Wharerangi when they re- , turned.