HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 June 1937, Page 12

HOKITIKA BOROUGH COUNCIL

[OUR own correspondent.] HOKITIKA, June S. A special meeting of the Hokitika Borough Council was held last evening to discuss the Council’s attitude towards the proposed new building loan to be raised by the Westland Hospital Board. Present: The Mayor (Mr G. A. Perry), Crs. H. L. Michel, E. Teichelmann, T. W. Duff, A. R. Elcock, A. H. Thompson, E. L. Park, G. Heinz, H. T. Parry. Mr F. McCabe, secretary of the Hospital Board, was also present. The new loan will be for £lO,OOO, in addition to the £17,000 already authorised which, with the Government subsidy of £3,000, would make the £30,000 necessary to carry out the building programme. Cr. Michel asked the reason for the increase of £3,000 (£7,000 to £10,000) on the completed cost of the new Nurses’ Home, over the original estimate.

This was explained by too low an estimate in the first place and, secondly, by the large increase in costs. The annual contribution from the Council toward the Hospital finances was aproximately S per cent. The Council would be asked for an extra £27G contribution this year. Of the £30,000 to be found. £3,000 would be an outright contribution from the Unemployment Board. The remaining £27,000 would be found, half from the Government as a £ for £ subsidy for the £13,500 to be fou,nd by the Board and contributing bodies. The approximate expenses of the new building schemes (including furnishings) would be as follow — New nurses’ home £lO,OOO, new theatre block £5,600; alterations and additions to Ellis and Mandi Wards £2,400, new children’s "Ward and improvements to Manson Ward, £12,100.

The Council decided to receive the Board's leter and offer no objection to the loan. In connection with the King George V. Memorial Fund, which has locally already reached £l4B, it was decided that the Council contribute £25.