AUCKLAND HOSPITAL

Evening Star, Issue 22682, 23 June 1937, Page 2

AUCKLAND HOSPITAL

MODERNISATION AND REBUILDING BOARD APPROVES MINOR SCHEME [Paa United Pres* Association.] AUCKLAND, June 22. A further stage in the proposals to modernise and rebuild the Auckland Hospital was reached to-night when the board approved of plans previously presented to the Select Committee by its architect, Sir John Farrell, and decided to send these, together with the report prepared by the Australian firm of consulting architects, to the Health Department. After a discussion of more than two hours a unanimous decision was reached.

Appealing for an approach to the question with an open mind, the chairman (the Rev. W. C. Wood) explained that many people were under a definite misunderstanding in regard to the board’s relations with the /Australian architects, Messrs Stephenson, Meldrum, ana Turner. Some believed they liad been asked to design a howital, but actually, as the records showed, the firm had oeen directed to report on the situation as they saw it. Their findings had naturally been placed in the hands of the board’s own experts. A full outline of the building proposals was given by Mr R. FarreD, wh» ' , explained tnat under the proposals his firm had prepared there would, with the preservation of the main block and the destruction of certain wards, be an addition of 230 beds to the present accommodation. Mr Farrell said that from his conversations with officers d| the Health Department it appeared that they would have to be convinced beyond all shade of doubt that the main block must be demolished before they would sanction this.move. They could see no reason why the present building could not he used for many years to come. “ I agree that all information should go to ■ Wellington,” affirmed Dr Hastings. “We nave two good (dans before us, and, personally, I do not.fed capable of judging between them. It was pointed out by Mr Wood that the plans would be subject to revision by the Health Department, and itwas possible when they we re _ returned to the board they would in detail be scarcely recognisable. Every single . activity of th© hospital was at present handicapped through lack or accom* modation, and every inch of room pro- • vided by the proposals would be re* quired. . , . The resolution was carried nnanim. ously. [The board’s architect’s scheme involves £400,000; the Australian plans, would cost £750,000.]