WARNING BY ARCHITECT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19339, 1 June 1937, Page 5

WARNING BY ARCHITECT

AUCKLAND HOSPITAL PLANS FOR EXTENSION LARGER SCHEME URGED (Special to the Herald.) AUCKLAND, this day. “If the Auckland Hospital Board adopts an alternative proposal before it for extensions estimated to cost £400,000 instead of favouring the first plan for new buildings costing £750,000 the city will not have a modern hospital suitable for its requirements,” said Mr. A. G. Stephenson; a Svdnev architect, Avho is going to Wellington to Complete plans for the reconstruction of the Wellington Hospital. . He arrived in Auckland yesterday by the Mariposa. Mr. Stephenson’s firm. Messrs. Stephenson, Meldrum and Turner, drew the plans some time ago for the reconstruction of the Auckland Hospital. In its report to the Auckland Hospital Board, Mr. Stephenson’s firm recommended the demolition of the -maiu- bku'k. An' alternative proposal before the board provided, said Mr. Stephenson, for a new Ward block between the existing main building and the Costly building. If this were done there would be no possible chance of securing a sound plan for either the initial or the ultimate development of the hospital. Practical Development “I am convinced beyond doubt that the existing main building holds the key to the whole of the hospital’s development on the existing site,” said Mr. Stephenson. “This main building has served good purpose for the past 60 or 70 years. It is hard to realise that, for sentiment or any other reason, a building should be preserved at the expense of'sound practical development. “A bold policy of construction is the only course that will bring the medical centre of Auckland into line with other great hospitals of the world. It is unthinkable that any serious mistake should be made at the present stage. It would cripple the institution for a generation to come. Mr. W. E. Bassett, consulting engineer, who co-operates ith Mi. Stephenson’s firm in its work with hospital ‘buildings, is accompanying Mr. Stephenson, who -said that lie hoped the reconstruction of the Wellington Hospital would begin shortly before Christmas.