CITY HALL.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17058, 1 February 1921, Page 7

CITY HALL.

A JOINT PROPOSAL

i The following letter was read sit the meeting of the Christchurch City Council l»st night l "With a view to uniting their ( efforts | for tho further and better development of the industry, commerce, and general well-being of Cantorbury, tlio Canterbury Progress I/eague, the Canterbury Chamber of Commetce, the Canterbury Industrial Association, tho Cantorbury A. and P. Association, and" others, have for some time past been considering the consolidation of their offices in one building, to provide for tlliem all a common chamber for meetings, a common library, and a permanent common exhibition of Canterbury products and manufactures; and also tho separate offices required by each body. In addition to the above, it is under consideration as to whether (in the event of its being necessary to build) a hall capable of holding ■ somewhere between £OO and 1000 persons s/hould bo added to the other accommodation. The matter was tentatively discussed tfit tn© last quarterly meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce on November 29th. At this meeting his Worship the Mayor was present, and fee invited the bodies already mentioned to consider/ tho provision by the City Council of the accommodation required by them when the City Council builds the new municipal offices on the block lately acquired by tho City Council in Manchester street. He.pointed out that tihere is a portion of the block with a frontage of 70ft to Manchester street, and a very great depth,' which will be available for purposes other than tho municipal offices. The bodies already mentioned somo time ago appointed a committee to consider t'he question of accommodation, and this committee appointed a sub-committee, comprising tho president of tho Chamber of Commerce, the president of the Industrial Association, and the organiser of the Canterbury Progress League, to make further enquiries as to accommodation. It is this committee whiclli is now approaching you in consequence of the Mayor's invitation. At an interview witli you on January sth regarding the accommodation wliicli may possibly be provided, it required, on the Manchester street block, the new question was raised as to whether the present' City Council Chambers on the corner of Oxford terrace and Worcester street, when vacated by the City Council foil the new offices in Manchester street, will, without erecting any new building, be suitable for tfiie accommodation, of the bodies already mentioned. There are so many points in favour of a careful consideration of this idea that we think it should have prior consideration, to any other, provided that a long and) secure and reasonable tenure can be obtained. We therefore make the following preliminary enquiries:—(1) Will the City Council entertain a proposal to lease tho present City Council Chambers to tho bodies already mentioned when the City Council transfers its.offices to Manchester street? and (2) if so, on wfitat terms will the City Council grant a lease? Tlie letter was signed by Messrs W\ M. Tyers (president of the Chamber of Commerce), W. J. Jenkin (president of the Industrial Association), and P. R. £Himie (organiser of ytlie Progress l<eaguc).

The letter was referred to the By-laws Committee, on the proposal of tha Mayor.