COMPLETING THE TAKAHE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22336, 25 February 1938, Page 13

COMPLETING THE TAKAHE

♦ —- MONEY NEEDED FOR * MATERIALS EIGHTEEN MONTHS* WORK REMAINS Thirty-nine men working lull time and paid by the Government are rapidly exhausting the materials available for the completion of the Sign of the Takahe. The provision of materials is the undertaking of the citizens of Christchurch, and the provision of labour the Government’s part. If the men are to continue the city must find £2OOO to complete the job. The materials in hand now are sufficient to last for about three months. Progress on the big new section of the building is now much more apparent than formerly, and visitors are beginning to see more clearly the form, the Takahe will eventually take. Eighteen months is required for its completion—certainly no longer if the materials are available. Mr J. A. Thomson, supervisor at the Takahe, who has worked keenly and strenuously for the fulfilment of Mr H. G. Ell’s ambitious plans at the road house, is confident that the money can be found for the materials, and although £2OOO us required he is not yet over-anxious about his prospects of obtaining it. He is fairly confident that it can be found. “The Press” reported in February of last year, the Government’s interest in the Takahe as a potential tourist resort and its investigation of the costs and problems involved. There has yet been no announcement of the Government’s intentions, though the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) and practically every other Minister of the Crown have inspected the building and spoken enthusiastically of it as a national treasurehouse. It was Mr Savage’s interest that led to a proposal that the whole of the Summit road reserves and the road houses should be taken over as one big national park. This proposal still awaits a decision, and it seems likely that this decision will not be available until after the completion of the Takahe. Meanwhile the building has been winning the attention of visitors from all parts of the world, and hardly a week passes without some person or party from overseas being escorted through the Takahe, as well as scores of New Zealanders from all centres. Conferences, wedding parties, and formal and informal afternoon teas continue to keep busy one of the most popular resorts in Canterbury.