INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19953, 23 May 1928, Page 14

INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

NEW HOSPITAL BUILDING. ORIGINAL ESTIMATE REDUCED. SCHEME BEFORE THE MINISTER. The Minister of Health, Hon. J. A. Young, yesterday informed a deputation representing tho Auckland Hospital Board that when he returned to Wellington lie would confer with the Director-General, Dr. T. H. A. Valin- • tine, regarding a new infectious diseases building at the hospital. Members of the deputation comprised Mr. W Wallace, chairman of the board, and Messrs. John Rowe and M. J. Savage, board members. They pointed out to the Minister the serious position at the hospital owing to the restricted accommodation available, and asked him to favourably consider the board's proposal to erect a new building. It was stated the original estimated cost of the building was £40,000, but since then the board's architects had gone inlo the question with one of the Health Department's experts, with a result that the cost could be reduced by from £3OOO to £SOOO. In replv, the Minister said he fully realised the necessity for some increased accommodation. Immediately on his return to Wellington he would discuss the whole matter with Dr. Valintine. AN ADMINISTRATIVE BLOCK. POSTPONEMENT DECIDED UPON. Owing to financial stringency and the many difficulties which at present are facing local bodies, the Auckland Hospital Board, at a special meeting yesterday, decided not to give immediate consideration to the erection of an administrative block at the hospital, as recommended by Dr. C. E. Maguire, medical superintendent, in his annual report to the board. The matter came up when the board was discussing the report, in which Dr. Maguire stated the necessity for an administrative block was obvious. It should bo built at,the entrance of the hospital and should accommodate all the offices, out-patients' department, and the dental hospital. The main entrance to the hospital should be through this administrative block and should form the only entrance for visitors, who, under present conditions, impeded considerably the work of tho institution. "The board realises that an administrative block is an urgent necessity," said Mr. Wallace, chairman of the board "However* the work cannot be carried out now. We have a big year in front of us as it is." INVESTIGATION REQUESTED. ACTION AT PALMERSTON NORTH. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION. J PALMERSTON NORTH, Tuesday. Following upon tho notification from the Palmerston North Hospital of increased levies for the coming year and tho estimates of capital expenditure, including a new two-storey block of buildings, the Borough Council last evening passed a resolution requesting the Government to appoint an independent commission to inquire into the whole question of expenditure. As a preliminary step it was decided to arrange for a deputation to meet the Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Health, when he visits Palmerston North on Monday next and place the council's views before him.