HOSPITAL AT CASHMERE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24882, 23 May 1946, Page 6

HOSPITAL AT CASHMERE

Satisfaction with the approval given by the Health Department to the broad outline of the proposal to build a 540bed hospital at Cashmere was expressed by members of the North Canterbury Hospital Board yesterday. The chairman (Mr L. B. Evans) -gave a verbal report on • discussions he had had in Wellington and a letter was received from the department asking for detailed information about the Cashmere Hospital and rebuilding proposals on the present site. Mr Evans said the department had been concerned at first whether the board was. justified in spending so much money at Cashmere, and had thought it rather an extravagant hospital, an opinion probably held by some board members. It was satisfactory to know from his discussions with the Director of the Hospital Division (Dr. I. C. McNickle) and the Minister (the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer) that, after the proposals had been considered, the department now thought the board was proceeding on the right lines. The board had to be careful that it was not extravagant, and he had been rather nervous about the proposals. However, the department now asked the board to go ahead with more detailed plans, so the board should get on with that job. The chairman of the building committee (Mr V. C. Lawn) said it was reassuring to have this information from Mr Evans. There had been some doubt whether the board should build a hospital of 540 beds or one of 350, but if it did not provide the larger one it would be shockingly short, of beds. Mr R. T. McMillan said the question was the wisdom of the building at the present time. Was the department concerned about the cost or the size? Mr Evans said the department had cut out some items to reduce the cost. It was prepared to approve a reasonable Iniilding without extravagance. The final proposals would go to the Government architect and to the Local Government Loans Board.

APPROVAL OF BROAD OUTLINE

DEPARTMENT’S VIEW FOUND REASSURING