MAINTENANCE OF HOSPITAL

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28446, 28 November 1957, Page 17

MAINTENANCE OF HOSPITAL

Extravagance Claimed

Far too much had been spent on the maintenance contract at the Oxford Hospital and the work done was beyond the needs of the hospital, complained Mr H. A; Bennett at yesterday’s meeting of the North Canterbury Hospital Board. He had been asked to report on the work. The board called for detailed reports. After Mr Bennett • had made his remarks, Miss M. B. Howard, M.P., said a member could not leave it at that. All board members were involved. His remarks could not be accepted as made in a jocular mood. The extravagance was in the lighting and heating in the different rooms, said Mr Bennett. It did not amount to much but he thought the expenditure could have been cut down a bit. Miss M. McLean suggested that Mr Bennett be asked to provide a report. “I don’t know whether the standard is any greater in our country hospitals than in the Christchurch Hospital,” said Mr L. Christie (chairman of the finance committee). “It is a good standard but not too high. A report should say whether they are extravagant.”

Mrs J. E. Mackay: Why not leave it to the visiting committee which will be at Oxford on December 12?

Mr Christie: It is not a question of appearance but of costs. The specifications for the work had been through the building committee and passed by the Health Department and the Board, said the chairman (Dr. L. C. L. Averill).

Mr V. Corbett said country hospitals were deserving of the best of equipment. “Yes; the days of the hurricane lamp are gone,” commented Mr Christie. / Dr. Averill: We must keep our country hospitals up to date if we are going to get staffs for them.

Mr Bennett’s report was referred to the building committee.