Having solved the funding problem , two months later the Board 38 then had to face the possibility that a much smaller scheme would be imposed by Wellington . They had been advised :
The Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals advised the Board ’ s Architect that in the light of the Architect ’ s advice that the original estimate for the Whakatane Hospital would be considerably exceeded by reason of additions to plans & increased cost of materials , and in view of the proposal to make King George V Hospital , Rotorua , the base Hospital for Bay of Plenty District , that a very much smaller scheme will have to be devised for Whakatane .
The Chairman stated that he had telegraphed a strong protest against the curtailment of the scheme .
The Minister of Public Health replied that matters could be arranged more satisfactorily if the Board ’ s Architect visited Wellington with definite statements in writing as to the amount of money proposed to be spent & the Board ’ s views of the minimum needs of the District .
This exchange was followed up with a visit to Wellington by the Chairman and Mr HLD West , the Board ’ s Architect , armed ‘ with definite statements in writing as to the amount of money proposed to be spent and the Board ’ s views of the minimum needs of the District .’ At the Board ’ s next meeting in August they learned that the Minister in Charge of Hospitals had consented to the building scheme ( with some alterations ) and had also consented to the erection of a temporary ward at the Mission Hospital , ‘ such building to be subsequently added to the Board ’ s Hospital as an Isolation Ward .’
Shortly after , Mr West submitted his revised plans for the new hospital . The Hospital was to have 24 beds , exclusive of verandah accommodation , built in concrete , at an estimated cost of £ 11,900 , not including a resident surgeon ’ s cottage or furnishings . In August 1920 the Chairman and the Architect went to Wellington , and approval was given to call tenders and start to raise loans . Due probably to the 1921 recession in New Zealand , it was not until May 1922 that a tender from a Te Awamutu builder ( Messrs AH Christie and Sons ) for £ 12,435 was accepted , subject to the approval of the Health Department . By this time a further £ 1,500 had been found by voluntary contributions . The completed first permanent Whakatāne District Hospital , eventually costing £ 29,000 , was opened on Thursday 13 September 1923 39 . By this time some other buildings had already been moved from the Mission Hospital to the new site to increase the number of beds to 28 and to provide accommodation for the Nursing and Medical staff .
38
Bay of Plenty Hospital and Charitable Aid Board Minutes , Volume 2 [ 17.09.1917 – 25.03.1938 ], 17 June 1920 , ( Auckland , Archives New Zealand , Reference ADHL A1669 22975 7 )
39
Anon , no title , ( Bay of Plenty Times , 15 September 1923 ), p2 column 3
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