THE NEW HOSPITAL QUESTION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 112, 15 May 1906, Page 2

THE NEW HOSPITAL QUESTION.

CONDITIONAL CONTRACT CAN-

CELLED

AN ALLEGATION OF INCON-

SISTENCY

AWATERE AGAINST THE DISTRICT.

Another scene has been added to what has been derisively styled the "New Hospital Comedy: First Act." Yesterday, all the members being present, the Board discussed the question whether the conditional contract with Messrs Wemyss Bros, for the erection of the new hospital, at a cost of about £12,000, should be gone on with. It will be recollected that at the time of accepting the tender a condition was inserted reserving to the Board the power to cancel the contract if at tho expiration of three months the Board was of opinion that it could not finance tho work. ,

Mr lingers, the Board's solicitor, at the request of the Chairman, forwarded the opinion that the preparation of plans by Mr Chatfield, architect, did not commit the Board to a charge for commission on the whole amount, as the said plans were for a building not reasonably within the Board's means to execute, and were therefore useless to the Board.

The Chairman said he had got this opinion in anticipation of discussion, as the same question came up at a previous meeting.

Mr Neville asked whether the opinion had been asked for by resolution of the Board.

■ Mr Meehan said he thought it was of no use passing resolutions if the Ghairman nullified them by taking individual action. '

The Chairman said Mr Meehan shouldj if he had a definite complaint, make it plain. It was a question for the Board that day to decide whether they had got the money to finance the matter. If three months went by and nothing was done, the Board would be committed to the building whether it was erected or not.

Mr White moved that the action of the Chairman in getting the opinion be confirmed.—Seconded by Mr Richardson, and carried without dissent. Mr Parker said the time limit would expire on- the 24th of next month. Would it not be necessary to give notice to rescind?

The Chairman replied that there was nothing to rescind. Mr Armstrong asked whether the remarks of Mr White, speaking at a Borough Council meeting, were correctly reported in the " Marlborough Express when he said the present hospital was a good building, and the Medical Officer was satisfied? Of course, if that was the case, there was no call for a new building. The Chairman said he did not know that Mr White's remarks before the Borough Council had anything to do with the Hospital Board. . Mr Armstrong—But Mr White gave the opinion to the Council speaking as a member of the Board. The remarks used would load people to think that the Board's Medical Officer had said so. •

Mr Parker moved that the time had arrived when the Board found it could not go on with the building. At the same time, members were quite willing to proceed if the thing could be financed. He himself had had a severe reprimanding from his Board for going the length he had done. He had thought something would be done to finance the thing. Mr Armstrong—l thought Mr Parker and Mr Ching had undertaken that. . . •

Mr Ohing seconded the motion. He had never intended to take a list and go round canvassing. He^ad understood at the time that if they could finance it they would go on,, but not otherwise; and he now thought the thing had gone far enough to prove whether any ' spontaneous, assistance was likely to bo forthcoming. Some members thought the G overnnienfc would come to th 3 Board's assistance. So they might, if the amount was not more than £2000. But it would be wrong to go ahead : without knowing where the money was coming from. The local bodies; must be protected, and if the only recourse was to corns down on them, he thought uiey would be able to get along with tlie old build- . ing for some time yet. •••■„■,.,.-* Mr Jas. Bell expressed the opinion of...the members of the Wair.au■ Road Board, who unanimously considered that the scheme should not go forward. Mr Armstrong expressed surprise at the direction from which the motion had come. However, he. supposed further "wobbling "on the .part..of the Board's members should not be matter for surprise. If there had been any attempt to find the money, without success, he should have quite understood the motion; but nothing had been done. The two members who had been left to canvass for assistance were now the very ones who"moved and seconded the motion: It appeared to him that a good deal of the change of front was the result of members naving been instructed by their several Boards. If his Board did" not agree to anything he did, he would certainly ask them to elect someone else. He, for one. was not going to have the public think he was going back on his past action. Mr Armstrong predicted that, as things were tending, such buildings as the one *hey were dealing with- would have, to ,be built entirely out of., local rates. What would then be , the position? They would haverlost the present chance of the Government paying half the cost. Taking the present position at its w:orst, and counting upon" having to find £7000, what was to prevent them raising a loan for that amount, which would only mean --wj per" annum interest. Of this sum £175 would be borne by the Government, and the district would only have to find a like amount. Why, it would cost that amount to keep the old building repaired and painted. And then they had to a.dmit that the old building had to be done away-with before very long. He urged that the Chairman, before putting the motion, should state whether any alternative scheme was suggested. The Chairman said his idea was to get ricLof the £12,000 contract first, and then to approach the architect and get him to provide them with a building at a cost somewhere near what they asked for in the first place; and to get him to proceed with' it, even if it did cost £100 more than the' £5500. - "

Mi* Moehan—This is inconsistency again. The Chairman knew there ■was no portion of that building which could be dispensed with. There was not a part of the £12,000 building which any member present %would agree to leave out. Some attempt should have been made to raise the money. There had been no real effort made to finance the thing. Had there been such, Mr Armstrong's scheme would have been of use, and they would not then have continued to be the laughing-stock of the colony—of the whole world. He could assure them that the thing was of world-wide knowledge, for ho had seen it jokingly referred to in an Australian paper, the Board being held up to ridicule. It would be botter for them to send in their resignations and stop at home. He himself had not been in favour of a new hospital at the .outset, until it had been decided that it was necessary. And anyone who knew the circumstances sufficiently well.to be con ■ vinced that a new building was essential should not allow their judgment to bs upset by their local bodies. He was particularly surprised at the Borough Council, as the expenditure of such an amount of money in the town, and the addition of such an attractive edifice to its surroundings, was a strong consideration. He was somewhat mystified at the change of opinions, for there had been no agitation—no letters in the paper, etc. If the tiling was knocked on the head the Board would loso the promise of the Premier of fnpfcher assistance. Then when they decided to make a fresh start he would be more angry than ever, and cast them off withou tanything.

Mr Jackson said there was one point he did not like about the whole thing. He had been in favour of a new hospital all along. He objected to the charge of individual inconsistency. The charge should rather be laid at the door of the Board as a whole. When the first tenders were received, the architect said that of course the building was a fancy one. The Board rejected all the tenders, and were commended by the architect for doing so. Then what did they do but invite tendors again for the same building, with the result of an advance of £800! That was the point at which he began to object. He thought they should be able to get a suitable building for

Mr White said that if they Trent ahead with the prosent financial position, there would be a. shortage of £8000, without consideration of architect's feesj furniture, etc. They

.would probably find themselves short to the extent of £10,000. Therefore, it was perfectly obvious to the Board, and to those members who were supposed to undertake a canvass tor subscriptions, tlint.it was a hopeless task. It was not surprising they . dvel not outer on it. In the meantime, the Board knew they, had a hospital uh en answered the purpose for the prose it. His own idea was that the Beaid should go on accumulating funds, and, when they had onougK bmlclnnoihe hospital; but their f<»»Jf ,/ c^ SrHHeS^cluT^ approve of the Chairman's suggestion ?ioy should start on a new venluit 7 -idl, T ,Sgoi^o^ SSySE; -Afjnc-Jjon no. wa^stc opinion trom l-h° g« °"^ iuicillorß had was glad to saj. tn i h< d( , lc _ ?l,e Resent tune^vas not b> . a building- Jl°:,,^ pve cted in town, other buildings being ciecte m that, the Board oonld*,of hospital for £.OOJh me oting way he did at to pi ht bo "inconsistent,aalt.V^ lt.Vf t vas so _ot i^^^ came in Mr Murray said 1^ was enj^f^c few who stuck outtcthe , could not see h» *j» t°/£ ad - to give new hospital But he nac .^ iLft^-pve^r hospital was good etUV^Vr^Si&Tßon, the ofirSP^edfto Board had power X^w for^uildmg^ Mr Neville saicl 'jf ", ital . What he in favour of a ne« J° Pg ng o f the He might tell jM-i" 12 rs an d consider," said Ml. Not pital is a disgrace to^ the tlis™ . . tra , SsSEf ="»■■= 7 t fa3«-e They sp<te

KS2"<SS»I»« moved thatthe ISliii "S^Penny'oTpo^ the motion, to+inn tliev were m about six mourns ago, when he moved a resolution and -Mr White seconded it- „ Mi Jas. Bell said he had a recollec£3: »»«?.!;= bl very slight. It was a common thing for steamers to be infested. . Mr Meehan said he had urged that the building should be in wood at hi bt, bit the Bo gard had decided for somefliinp- else They could not be always Sikfng UP tU mmds afresh-wood one day and brick the next. Mi Bell-But wo have not the mM? yMeelian-Spend what we have. It is in the specifications, is it not i The Chairman—Are you speaking to the motion, Mr Meehan? . Mr Meehan-I am speaking to the motion, and asking for information as I go oA. He was getting sick of the whole thing, and wanted to get to some landing-place, so that he miglit chuck it up any time. The Chairman-The sum fixed by the Board, at the architect's request, was £5500. Therefore I reckon, he undertook to provide it at that price. Mr Armstrong—Not provide it; draw plans. „!.,„,, The Chairman—Well, draw plans then. Mr Armstrong had referred to Hie "waste" of £300 on the old building in cleansing it. That was one of the best works done yet. (Heai, bear.) The Medical Oflicor would toll them that. The doctor had said that the place was, before that, a mass oi suppuration. Mr Meehan rose to speak. The Chairman—We will take the motion. . ~ T Mr Meehan (resuming his scat)—l was up there as one of the Visiting Committee . to-day, and the bugs are there still. 1 ., , Mr Armstrong said it should no made clear whether the Chairman was moving the motion simply to got ncl of the architect or to stop the thing. The Chairman said lie was not an architect, and could not tell how that person would take it. However, the architect was a man of aftairs, am. would devine what the Board wanted him to do. Also, the letter he proposed should be sent might help the Board in view of possible litigation. The motion was carried, on the lollowing division:— Ayes: Messrs Jackson J. Bell, Richardson, Parker, Chin*' Neville, and the Chairman. Noes:' Messrs White, Pike. Murray, Meehan, and Penny. Mr Armstrong declined to vote.