NURSES' HOME.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20788, 23 February 1933, Page 11

NURSES' HOME.

DISCUSSION AT MEETDWf OF BOARD, CRITICISM OF EXPENDJTW&EL Criticism of tlie expenditure incurred liy the North. Canterbury Hospital Hoard in the erection of the now, Dimes' home in lliccarton avanue, oa the grounds that when completed ih® building would houae only half of the hospital staff, was voiced by Mrs McComLs at the monthly meeting of (he board yesterday. Mrs McConoiba contended that more than £65,000 had been spent by the board on a palatial building which would give accommodation to less than half of the staff ro» quiring new and up-to-date housing, and at a time when utmost economy was being inflicted in other directions, During the discussion which followed, Mr L. B. Evans (chairman of the finance committee of the board), .slated that by the time the home wa* finished the 1«tal coslT would not b* much less than £72.000. The discussion began wrhen Mr Evans, in submitting the finance committee's report to the board, ut&ted that a further sum of £BSOO would b# needed to meet the full requirements ■ ior the nurses' home, and asked the loard to authorise that immediate steps be taken to apply to the Loans Board lor that amount. Mrs McOombs asked if the £BSOO was to be an added cost on theanjounti alroadv used for.the home. Mr Smith stated that it would not he an added cost. Quite Expensive Enough. "I asked because it seems to at* , that the home has already proved quite * expensive enough for the board,' said , Airs McCombs. "We have now spent more than £65.000 on a home which will hoyse actually less, than, 100.',.nurses. We have 200 of them,and the remainder will have to remain ia the old building, while the fortunate ones will be housed in this palatial new building. About 20 of the staff will ■; have to go in to make up a total 6f ■ 120 in the new homo. "In view of tho fact that thewwfrd. -> has been faced with the necessity > of milking extremo economies, I hope that the extravagance iiicurred in ifiisrriteW: building will be brought heme to fto members of the board—especially '.to f) 1 the country , members, for I think 'th&t the Citv members are already swaro of it. It was known, that it W^.nec«s-/.-- ; sary to extend the accommodation "f0? v ' lj - the nurses, and -I do not grudge any conveniences or comfortsj butr,jttdh vj, one can maintain tJiat; the "'extrayaj-" *• jT;inc<? of this new building "was nets®*sary for. our nurses, or for tho&eor any other hospital. * , Extra Sxpetmt. •» ~ "In spite of the warning issued to the board it persisted in erecting -the. home on a swampy plot, and'- th®'' fifst >' 1 thing needed was an t'or pile-driving for - necessity for an building later caused an incredae, in ■, cost. But the fact refnains that after . ; frequent warnings, the board persisted in putting up tho building was thought to be a, cheap site-—-lt;CO£i £2OOO, although the ■ public wm that the board was getting thing, for tlie buildings on. the f had to be, paid for. Furthermore, although was.. to have been made for tlie future, Mtis:-n W,< ' The piling up of interest immense capital sum is a 'ytake, and a monument of -the, board and its out its'■worlc," Mre McCdtnbs "If the board had to eollaet'jtg rates, instead of handing the wprk^j cept all tlie criticism, it- •woshF &Ps;^f|| . ,80":': 19 |i:::|Mr H. H, Holland iMHJ ■ H was committed to the I depression started.' _ I' 'Mr J.-'K I ment made by Mrs McCombs, tta^fih®A had been refused permission to infs«rt''-£j the new nurefeß* home by fhe, jfo*- v f tractors. He submitted' that tractors on the home had no right ito i-refuse. admission, to :Mr» i only on the grounds of rights 'but' W _f, I C °Sr 6l £ % ; Evans i time the home was completed' 1 the board was plodged to<fbe had to go through with, L r it. $ gjaljiMSH 1 suggested just -after' the cepted that tlie board" ( ' s get out'of it, hut "it_^4£72,000, did not said, in reply'to, a money for the 'i furoitujre wa«j* Se'crence to the about the accommodation. 'at';'. provided 'for thethe chairmari XMr, said th&t before /th#, to erect the, new home many complaints, even about the had state of * th«r housing for the*sf!t£f. van Minister for Health hadi accommodation ..and approval of it.* The board 4 "twi# tainly spending a lot of > i new.'home, brt it • yaa date accomodation .and been- 'enlaTrihiy^ffife^t»#K On:the motion of Atr Evans, it'"na* i. l i decided to apply for the amount- nwessary.- from the Loans Board,