HOSPITAL BUILDINGS

Grey River Argus, 3 December 1943, Page 6

HOSPITAL BUILDINGS

Tender System Again

MR. NORDMEYER’S ANNOUNCEMENT.

P.A. OAMARU, Nov. 2. That the Cabinet had decided to allow Hospital Boards to revert to the tender system for buildings . if they so wished instead of proceeding on a schedule basis was disclosed by Mr. Nordmeyer (Minister of Health) at the opening ceremony of the New Ward Block at the Oamaru Public Hospital this afternoon. Mr. Nordmeyer referred to the fact that the Waitaki Hospital Board had completed the new buildings by the tender system and had been fortunate in receiving a good tender for the job, but pointed out that there had been good reasons for the Government’s decision that Boards had to proceed on a schedule basis rather than by tender, the reasons being manpower difficulties in securing materials and the fact that they were wanting the completion of certain jobs. The decision was a wise one and but for it certain buildings would not have been available now. It had been necessary to push on buildings rapidly, because the public was not getting the accommodation thev were entitled to, and provision had to be made for returning sick and wounded servicemen and women, the Minister said. Such hospital accommodation should be provided as near as possible to soldiers’ own homes, and, although it meant that extra accommodation had to be provided, that accommodation would serve the civilian population after the war. However Cabinet, added Mr. Nordmeyer, had now decided + o allow Boards to revert to the tender system, or thev could proceed on a schedule basis if they so wished.