LOCAL MUSEUM PROPOSALS

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27664, 21 May 1955, Page 3

LOCAL MUSEUM PROPOSALS

IMPEDIMENTS SEEN PROBLEM OF CONTINUED FINANCIAL AID The advisability of local museums being established outside the main centres had been discussed at the recent conference of the Museums’ Association, and although it had agreed to prepare an advisory brochure and provide any personal assistance required, the association had emphasised the reasons why such ventures in the past had failed, the Director (Dr. Roger Duff) told the Canterbury Museum Trust Board. Finance was the first problem, he said. It must be continuing, and as an income of Is a head in a' population of 7000 would produce only £350 a year, it would ,be seen that serious thought was necessary before entering a permanent museum commitment. Staffing was another difficulty, Dr. Duff said. Local museums were usually started by enthusiasts, but once they moved on there was no guarantee that a successor would be found to sustain interest and safeguard the material collected. As an alternative, Dr. Duff suggested that small communities might arrange show cases in their local library or council chambers to which the, nearest metropolitan museum could supply changing collections of the local material with which it had been entrusted, and also other items of popular interest. The Museums’ Association had welcomed the inquiries about local museums as a reflection of its own efforts to arouse more widespread interest, Dr. Duff said, and was concerned only that new ventures should be soundly based. The Canterbury Museum has given advice and assistance in the establishment of the South Canterbury Historical Museum, Dr. Duff said. Recently, he had been consulted on a plan for Akaroa, and had suggested the use of an old French house there. Waimate had a hall available, and had asked for advice about a local museum. Kaikoura’s new memorial centre, which would be opened next month, had a library, and the museum had agreed to lend busts for display recesses. Hokitika once had its own museum, and Canterbury staff had been asked to give addresses to arouse interest in its revival.