TILING AT NEW HOSPITAL

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29057, 20 November 1959, Page 12

TILING AT NEW HOSPITAL

Statement By Contractor

Mr C. S. Luney, contractor for the Princess Margaret Hospital, yesterday replied to a statement made by the chairman of North Canterbury Hospital Board’s finance committee (Mr L. Christie)’ that defective tiling in the new hospital might cost at least £7500, reported in yesterday’s issue of “The Press." “Anyone reading the report of alleged tiling defects at the Princess Margaret Hospital would get the impression that tiles were falling off the walls in large quantities,” said Mr Luney. “In fact, Mr Christie goes so far as to suggest that ‘if tiles continue to fall off as they have done over, the last month, it could go on for at least 10 years’.” Mr Luney said that it was reasonable to expect that if such were the case the contractor would have heard of it. However, he first learnt of it when reading “The Press,” yesterday. “In a building of this size, settlement, temperature changes, expansion and contraction and other factors, inevitably loosen tiles,”' said Mr Luney. “1 am Advised by our foreman that the total amount of time employed in refixing loose tiles has been less than four hours.” Mr Luney said that did not justify Mr Christie’s extravagant calculation. The true facts should be put before the public “who are so ptoud of their new hospital.” . .. He added that he agreed entirely with ■ the architect that this was a normal maintenance item.