FUTURE WORKS AT HOSPITAL

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21714, 22 February 1936, Page 14

FUTURE WORKS AT HOSPITAL

Director-General's Request

SEVERAL MONTHS OF CONSIDERATION

A request that the DirectorGeneral of Health, Dr. M. H. Watt, be furnished with particulars of the board's proposed capital expenditure during the next five years has been received by the North Canterbury Hospital Board, but owing to the great amount of investigation necessary, it is unlikely that any reply can be given to Dr. Watt for several months.

Past Directors-General of Health have asked hospital boards to defer building operations, except where urgently necessary, because of the bad economic position. Consequently this new request has caused surprise, "The Press" was informed. The North Canterbury Hospital Board has set up a sub-committee which is making investigations into the likely expenditure during the next few years, but it has pointed out that to'make a forecast for such a period will take some months of deliberation. Such things as the development of the hospital and the extension of the nurses' home must be considered in future works, it was stated, and in view of that it was impossible to do anything immediately. The committee will have to make its recommendations, which must, in turn, be considered by the full board.

The secretary of the North Canterbury Hospital Board, Mr W. S. Wharton, told "The Press" yesterday that it was as yet impossible to give any definite indication of the work which would probably or even might be undertaken within the next five years. Until the board has considered the matter over a period of months the Director-General is unlikely to receive any reply.