KARITANE SUBSIDY

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29872, 12 July 1962, Page 2

KARITANE SUBSIDY

Govt. Grants Increase

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, July 11

A farther £ for £ *abtidy up to £6163 toward* the cost of the aew Baritone hospital in Christchurch, making a total subsidy of £33,199, has been approved by the Government, the Minlater of Health (Mr McKay), announced tonight In 1957, the Government approved a £39.006 subsidy, and £6036 extra In 1960 because building cost* had risen between the time the scheme was first planned and the receipt of tenders. When the lowest tender was considered in 1960, the Christchurch branch of the Plunket Society found it had insufficient funds, even with subsidy assistance, to meet the full cost of the original building programme. Negotiations with the lowest tenderer followed to make savings on various items while enabling essential services to be provided without further delays. The society then embarked on fund-raising measures to restore deferred items at a later date. Nearly Completed The hospital was now nearly completed and the society, having raised further funds, had sought subsidy assistance to complete the original contract. Plans had been approved by Dr. N. C. Begg, director of medical services of the Plunket Society, and the Department of Health had agreed that the work was necessary to make the hospital fully effective. Mr McKay said the public had given praiseworthy support in helping the society to find its half share of the hospital’s cost. Control of the hospital and its finances had been recently vested in a board of control representative of all Plunket Society branches in the area. The board had been very active in raising funds and he commended it for the vigorous way in which the problem had been tackled. The branch had £34,421 in hand. In addition to its half share of the cost—£32,l99 it would have to find some £2OOO for equipment and furnishings which did not qualify for subsidy.

WANT Ads. have proved themselves so profitable and inexpensive that they have become a household and business necessity. . . . Read and use the Want Ads. In "The Press” every day.