Auxiliary Lighting At Hospital

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 15059, 20 August 1949, Page 3

Auxiliary Lighting At Hospital

Question Of Acquiring

Plant

Power Board Engineer To

Be Consulted

The desirability of procuring an auxiliary lighting plant for the Tauranga Hospital, was discussed at the monthly meeting held on Thursday, when the resident engineer, Mr W. Hodder, reported on his investigations regarding a suitable plant. There was a divergence of opinion as to whether such a plant was necessary and no decision was reached by the board. Mr Hodder stated that he considered a plant capable of producing 25 kilowatts would be needed for the hospital and the approximate cost of this would be £ISOO. He suggested that a benzine plant would be the most suitable, as it couid be made fully automatic and would require no attention. This would require separate wiring, he said, but it would cut in or out as the electricity supply ceased or returned. In reply to Miss M. W. Stewart, the chairman, Mr H. J. Clarke, said that the power board had not recommended the installation nor had the question been referred to that board. "In my opinion the present electricity supply will not improve for

six or seven years." remarked Mr Hynds. "If we' have another dry summer we may have problems again next year." Miss Stewat asked if the plant was reallv necessary. Thpre wns, r.he stated, an emergency light for fhe theatre and enquired if the hospital had been troubled with breaks Jn the electricity supply. Dr Sligo. the medical simerintendent, replied that the hospital had been without lights for up to half-an-hour

at a time. ; * Mr Clarke: Personally I don't think the department will approve of the purchase of an auxiliary plant. The power will never be cut off from hospitals even if cuts generally are imposed. \ Remarking that the money would be well expended, Mr L. R." Wilkinson moved that the board approach the department for authority to purchase an auxiliary plant and Mr Hynds said he thought • it quite wrong that, on occasions, the nurses in wards should have to resort to lamps and candles. The matron, Miss E. M. Hollis, advised that this year there had been little trouble with the lights, but the winter before last had been a bad one in that respect. Mr Wilkinson said it should be remembered that the institution was growing very quickly. He had no wish to see money wasted but thought the plant should be obtained. i After Mr Hynds had suggested that the matter could be investigated further, the board resolved to refer question to the power "board's engineer, Mr J. R. Bongard, for an opinion.