FRESH PROPOSAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 October 1942, Page 3

FRESH PROPOSAL

OLD NURSES HOME AT MASTERTON HOSPITAL LIGHT STRUCTURE TO BE ERECTED ON TOP. DISCUSSION AT TODAY'S BOARD MEETING. Following a lengthy discussion at today’s meeting of the Wairarapa Hospital Board it was decided that the Department of Health be again approached and informed of the board's opinion that in view of the considerable cost involved the Department be -asked to state definitely whether approval would be granted to strengthen the old nurses home and convert the top storey into a building of light structure.

At a special hospital board meeting on October 3, the report of the Public Works Department on the old nurses home at Masterton was received and it was decided at that meeting that the board’s architect be instructed to prepare plans for the reduction of the home to a single storey building. Mr H. H. Mawley (chairman) said that the board would save money if it had a light structure erected over the old nurses’ home in place of the present top storev. Unfortunately, it realIv had no other alternative to the proposal recommended by the Public Works Department. Mrs J. Robertson enquired when a new home could be built.

“It will be after the war,” observed Mr Mawley. “It is not much use being a board. We have very little say and what say we have is over-ruled,” said Mr D. McGregor. Mrs S. Fletcher: “We are only here to be blamed.” “Mr McGregor has hit the nail on the head. I might as well say that we have been almost ordered to take the top storey off,” said Mr Mawley. Mr C. T. Richardson said that if it were feasible to carry out the board s proposal a firm stand should be taken. Mr A. Forsberg: “If we need the room and a top storey is the cheapest way, we should fight for it.” Mr Mawley: “We need all the space we can get.” “As a public body we should be very careful in going against expert advice,” said Mrs Robertson. Mr J. F. Thompson said that expert advice was not against the board’s proposals. Mr P. R. Welch: “We arc dealing with a .building which will house 40 people and not a hay shed. It, is a grave responsibility on the board.” “We have all had long experience on public bodies. We know from painful experience that Public Works Dey partment engineers are not infallible said Mr H. Thomas. He alleged that the Public Works Department had squandered money. Following further discussion the decision stated above was come to. It was also decided to obtain an opinion from a structural engineer on the possibility of erecting a light structure, as a second storey in place ot the top portion of the nurses old home, which is to be levelled down to one storey. It was also agreed that an opinion be sought as to whether the present structure as it stands could be strengthened and made safe.