THE MUSEUM PROJECT

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25970, 25 November 1949, Page 8

THE MUSEUM PROJECT

MEETING AT TIMARU CENTENNIAL EXECUTIVE DEPUTATION From Our Own Reporter TIMARU, November 24. The assistance available to establish a South Canterbury museum, with the services of trained staff from the Canterbury Museum, the loan of constantly changing sequences of exhibits, and exhibits by way of gift were explained by the director of tne Canterbury Museum (Mr R. Duff) at a conference of representatives of the Timaru City Council, local body and women’s organisations throughout South Canterbury, at Timaru this evening. The meeting was called by the Mayor (Mr A. E. S. Hanan) to discuss with a deputation of representatives of the Canterbury Centennial executive and the Canterbury Museum reciprocal assistance for the Canterbury Centennial Memorial Museum extensions and for the' establishment of a South Canterbury museum. Assistance to South Canterbury would have to depend on the clear understanding that help would have to be given for the Canterbury Museum project, Otherwise there would be no chance now, br in the foreseeable future, of assistance to establish a South Canterbury museum, Mr Duff said. If this were not forthcoming, money that could be spent on providing services and exhibits for South Canterbury would have to go to help build the new memorial extensions. “Your museum heeds our help and can hardly succeed without it,” Mr Duff said. Timaru could not afford to stay out and if they did it could be an irreparable loss to them. “We yield to none in our desire to see a South Canterbury museum set up. The only thing we begrudge you is a bad museum in which curios are merely hung and are likely to disappear for lack of expert care or through loss by neglect,” Mr Duff said. Valuable* heirlooms and' other perishable material at present stored at Timaru nad deteriorated very rapidly through lack of suitable housing, he continued. A museum was not a storehouse for knick-knacks, but an educational centre. Enough exhibits could be immediately provided to establish a centre for school teaching work in South Canterbury. If local bodies came in behind the scheme it could be carried out, Mr Duff said.

The chairman of the Canterbury centennial celebrations finance com-, mittee (Mr W. S. Mac Gibbon) appealed for a united drive from all parts of the province to provide a permanent and worthy memorial. The committee was asking for about £3OOO, which could be spread over several years, and repayment of loan and sinking fund would amount to £3 10s a week, which was not a lot for the benefit it would insure.

The Mayor of Christchurch (Mr E. H. Andrews) said it would be disastrous if there should be any separation in the approach to the matter. “I am pleading for your support. We want your co-operation ana you want ours,” he sqid. Timaru would take a very prominent place in the celebrations, some of which would be in Timaru. Complete floats could be sent for display in Timaru and Waimate. It was most important also to have the history of Timaru and South Canterbury recorded in the centennial publication. Major N. A. Rattray, chairman of the Waimate County Council, said he had been very struck with the plan, and Waimate had agreed previously to contribute but had originally considered the quota rather high. In reply to a question by the chairman of the finance committee of the South Canterbury centennial celebrations executive (Mr J. S. Satterthwaite), Mr Mac Gibbon said that all contributions, whether for the memorial or for local celebrations, would carry the Government subsidy of £1 for £3.

Speaking for the Levels County Council, Mr A. H. Giles said that the council had thought the quota much too high, but were prepared to give a certain amount. The Deputy-Mayor of Christchurch (Mr J. N. Clarke) outlined a scheme for sending champion athletes competing in the centennial games to South Canterbury. The indirect revenue to Timaru would largely contribute towards South Canterbury’s share, he said.

The deputation consisted of Messrs Andrews, Clarke, Mac Gibbon. Duff, Beaven, and the organiser for the centennial celebrations (Mr T. H. Langford), and the Christchurch Town Clerk (Mr H. S. Feast).