THE NEW HOSPITAL.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14208, 21 June 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE NEW HOSPITAL.

MINISTER- COUNSELS DELAY

r;:.: ; ;;':TE]SJ>BRS-iTp;;BEfGALLED. .

>v (From,; ''The Colonist,^ 'May 20.),, ■\ - A special meeting of- the Nelson Hospital and Charitable/Aid Board tfas held ; yesterday to further consider matters 'in connection with the proposed new hospital. There were present Messrs. H. Eaigent (chairman), G. H. Allan; E. S. Hoult, W. N. Franklyn, W. Lock, and Mrs. Watson. The following letter from Dr. Valintiue, Inspector-General of Hospitals, was read:—''As I gather from press cuttings and other reports that your Board is by no meatis unanimous as to the advisability of proceeding with the erection of the new hospital, especially owing to your disagreement with the department as to the payment of subsidy on the sum donated, by' the late Mr. Cauthron, I Avould suggest, as intimated by some of the members of the Board at a recent meeting, that the erection of the hospital be held' over until the end of the war. I am all the more constrained to make this recommendation in view of the fact that the very great cost of the materials and fittings required for hospitals has been very prominently brought under niy notice, and though I would be reluctant to see the erection of the-hospital postponed, I should be very loach to see your Board en--bark on a larger expenditure on buildings and equipment than is really necessary, on account of the war." A letter was also read from the Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister for Public Health, as, follows:—"! have ;the honour to acknowledge receipt, under date 6th May, of copy, of a resolution passed at a recent meeting of your Board 'with reference to the new hospital at' Nelson. I have already forwarded to you a suggestion that on account of the enormous increase in the cost of building materials and equipment for hospitals^ the work of erecting your new building should be allowed to stand over until the close of the present disastrous war. On receipt of your reply to that I will consider further the" resolution of your Board which is now before me." The chairman said that he could not see that the "letters could be dealt with, as the Board had not yet received the plans. The Board's request for alternate progress payments had apparently upset the Minister, but he did not think the Board should stay its hand. - ■ Mr. Hoult said the Board had refused the Minister's offer, and the Minister now intended to hold up the matter. The Board was to blame. The Government had guaranteed— The chairman: What uas the guarantee? Mr. Hoult: That when the Board spent £15.000, the Government would pay £18,000. What greater guarantee could the Board have? The Board had made a mistake, and it would be a loss to Nelson and the peopie generally. The chairman: No, no. Mr. Lock said that there iras no question whatever that the Board had been scurvily treated by the Government. Mr Cawthron pave the £15,000 on the understanding: that the subsidy was forthcoming when the amount was paid in, and this the Government agreed to. Then other suggestions were made, and now the Government wanted the Board to spend their gift,' then they would be prepared to pay their contribution. Notwithstanding war conditions, the Government was treating Nelson differently from other places, where they had paid large subsidies. He thought it would be wrong to incur a debt without the/money to pay for it. The Education Board was experiencing difficulty in obtaining grants from the Government. Mr. Franklyn said if the Board .undertook the erection of the new hospital the Government would pay its subsidy when,Mr. Cawthron's gift was expended. In this there was a.certain amount of risk, for-there might"" be a change; of Government, and the new Government might repudiate it. His idea was the Board should fall in with the wishes of the Government in regard to building. The Board might find that tenders far exceeded the amount available, and he thought the matter should be postponed until after the war, when prices of material would become normal. He was very anxious to see the hospital built, but ho strongly advised caution. He moved that the request of the Minister be acceded to. . Mr. Allan said he had a written motion to the same effect. He agreed with much that Mr. Frn-nklyn had said. It was an inopportune fane to erect such a proposed building' owing to the cost of material having increased. He then moved: "That owing to the largely increased cost of building material and hospital equipment and shortage of labour- owing to the war. this Board accepts the suggestion of the Tu-suector-Geuernl of Hospitals roid the Minister of Public Health," that the erection of the now hospital be 'prst-' porW till after the w;u\ ami hereby resolves to postpone takina any further tber st^ps in regard to th<> work indefinitely;" . Continuing, . Mr. Allan Rfud. h(\ ths sure the public would k*v»" the wisdom of the. Board taking surh a si*jp. TKto" nnVht \& a difficulty in rcgfird to tlie architect, <\<;t the Board bad not yet seen the plans, nor had tliev been approved hv a consulting architect. If the oßard was linb'lp to Mr. Griffin, probably they could co"ie to terms with him in regard to thp pnvueiil; of commission. j Mr. Frnnklyn seconded the motion. | The .architect had always met the Hoard in a nice stunt,* and if the Roard treated lorn fairly, ]>r» v/as .sin-o Mr. Griffin would meet the Board. Tlp P'-'xTict'-'tT that prices would come down after tho war. Mr. Hoult asked if thp motion wti? ■»i order without noh'cp, .i-< th^ Board ]'nd resolved tr» nrnno.^d with the erection of .7 new hospital. TJ«n r-hairmnn said the n.potinj/ was spiled to consider nlans find specific*. ti'vns nud the erection of n. new hospital. He considered the n-oHon was''in or'T^r. Mr. T>/->k pnM ho u-onH tvovp ff* :>■>■ n'-ondout thnt the Minister bf> infornsthnt in vjjmy nf the urgent, necessity fc" n. up»- hospital—-T'-c f-iiinr.an said ho desired tn w"n';,Ht!ip motion, which he opposed, n^ the r-ir.vpTin-1-ient wns s^ondino-.large -•iv»s -in the North -Island on railways i-r] ot'^r v-orkß. He was «uvp jf il-. P J-'in. T)-. Rhodes hfid lx=pvi in nower AvnuJr] h«u:p vfM-lp«r-c r ] h]<-- nicely J^iiv'i shr.ii| f ] <-.nll f O r t-Pivlpr*;. pnr7 if n tender v,-f>s within r^if-h. of tl^ '1^1" 1:'t" +hn p«niv] should noc<>r>t it. '•^ nymrivz-- v. n v;m>?n-s. F<'e siur^ester] I 1';'; ■ Vl" /"ii-'fnn "^ould bp nnid one- ""'" '; r _!< 's fee>; v-hon the tender wa= y*~r.^.. +o + 1,0 ~,,iy|j o . ~.},„ , vrro ] r>Q V. - ir> +I>r\ T'^rrl +n Wmr? TV upv- ' V>.s-' v:ifi;il(y. +liQ rp+^^-^rs .ttmW. h" -«"n.-.,,.,.. r 7f.i-1.. Wo +.ll "-hf-/ +,-n^^.p !<ot!,l } If .v ir»H+,Pfl, 'nnd |.o iv"v<»d t'lit M yniy o p +.),„ tiv/yoTi-fc'- Tineo«ict'-hy for -P -"->■ l,rsc-vf.nl n +,■.STolhoti +.x,p Mini-s+^r bv> infirmed thnt thp Board rn'o^o'«?ps; to '■oil -Tav +r > ,, r 7 fi vr) 47 or •■'f.Tio . prpcfclpn Of r .^T;> TJ o ,-,]+, cr , r , nT ,rJp ( q flip' aiT>-n"'flj-npr.+, * !-TU,> Br, ni vl- hf\tl tl-"^- 'fmhriiriinn-.-tf f^o '• r->tv^ Jt %«-nnldi"T)e ■ vpsj"?.; niid:.;yrov'n.- ---!' ':■* tet';yilro'-: war- •■• was .aver■:. ,l>of.ore;': PiMees^

wouldfall.; The;ißlinister; said,-'' Spend your £15,000 and wj* ■ will spend our £13,000.": ;; They; couldv get;:nothing purer, nothing, "cleaner: than that. ? In reply^ -to* Mr. {Allah, '..Mr,:;Griffin said that with certain- modifications he could praipticaliy guarantee to show the; Board figures that would enable them to go on ,wi&h the hospital. Architects and engineers weire of opinion that they could not expect any fall in prices of material for many yearns after the war. It was the general opinion that' the cost/of labour would go up. In reply to Mrs. Watson, Mr. Griffin said the modifications would not affect the interior of the buildings in any way. The outside appearance would be affected.

Mr. Allan said it appeared to him that the modifications would result in the construction of a "gingerbread" building. Apart from matters -which came within the"; province of the architect, there was-the question of fittings and furnishings,. which had increased in price considerably. The chairman said he could not see the object of delay. He believed tlu Minister; was anxious to do the Board ilistice^;,"H,e. felt it his bounden duty to endeavour to. carry out "Mb*. Cawthron's request. Tlie Board was willing to forego the payment of tho whole subsidy at once, but would require progress,payments.. . : . Mr. Lock said the Government; would not back-out. of the subsidy. He was anxious to on with the hospital. Mrs. -Watson .wanted to know if tl" Board did not proceed with the "erection of the hospital could Mr: Ca\rthron's trustees recall- the money? The chairman: That is a legal point. Members: No. :. The amendment was then put and carried.' Ayes: Messrs. Lock, Hoult, Mrs. Watson, ' and the chairman. Noes: Messrs. Franklyn and Alton. Put as ;t substantive motion it was carried on the same division. CONSULTING ENGINEERS. ' APPROVED. Mr. Griffin having reported in regard V the qualifications of consulting engineers for lighting and heating, Mr. Lock moved that Mr. Griffin's recommendations as to tlie appointment of Mr. L. M. SUver,..A.M.I.CE. 3 . and Mr. D. K. Blair, engineer, as consulting engineers for lighting and heating. Respectively, be approved. Seconded by Mr. Hoult and carried. In reply to Mr. Hoult, Mr. Griffin said the plans had to be approved by the Health Department and the City Engineer. No action was taken in regard to the appointment of another consulting architect;. The Board then rose.