NAPIER HOSPITAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20902, 18 June 1931, Page 13

NAPIER HOSPITAL.

RECONSTRUCTION PROBLEM.

ARCHITECTS TO BE CONSULTED

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NAPIER. Wednesday.

The question whether the new, Napier Hospital , to he. built on the hill _to replace the one destroyed by the earthquake is to be. constructed of wood or ferro-concrete was discussed at a meeting of the Hawke's Bay Hospital Board today. Although most of the members of the board favoured wood it was finally decided to call in an expert to report on the matter, and also 011 the buildings-it is proposed to reinstate. It was stated by Mr. S. J. ,McKee that he had been told that in America, ferroconcrete buildings which had nothing wrong with them structurally were being pulled down because they .did not meet modern requirements. The possibility would be that if the board erected an expensive building in ferro-concrete to-day it would be quite out of date in 50 years time. It was for that reason he favoured a wooden structure. ' Another advantage would be that the country would be assisted by using the best New Zealand timbers, so helping the sawmilling industry. After further discussion a motion was carried to the effect that the Institute of Architects be asked to appoint a representative from Hastings and one from Napier to confer with the chairman and, if the chairman considered it necessary, to call in an outside architect ; if not the two nominees to rotifer with the hoard on the nature of the construction of new buildings and report on buildings retained and on the Hastings Memorial Hospital.