UNIFORM DESIGN?

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 34, 10 February 1939, Page 3

UNIFORM DESIGN?

NEW ZEALAND HOSPITALS APPOINTMENT OF EXPERTS ( Per Press Association.] NEW PLYMOUTH, Feb. 9. The question of hospital planning and construction, regarded as most important in view of the ever-in-creasing demand for hospital accommodation and the large amount of public money that will be spent on hospital buildings in New Zealand during the next few years, occupied considerable time at the conference of the New Zealand Hospital Boards’ Association. Several remits were before the conference urging that, with the object of standardising buildings throughout the Dominion and making available to hospital boards standardised plans and specifications in accordance with advances in modern practice, so as to ensure that money expended on hospital buildings be spent to the greatest advantage, an advisory board of experts should be set up.

Some delegates expressed the opinion that New Zealand architects had not specialised in hospital construction, but others held that there were voung men in the profession in Ne v Zealand who needed only to be given the opportunity. The opinion was expressed that the Health Department’s staff was doing splendid work and that if it were augmented bv the appointment of experts to assist hospital boards in the deigning of their buildings, the position wculd be met. An amendment to that efleet was carried.