TOWN HALL PROJECT

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28362, 22 August 1957, Page 7

TOWN HALL PROJECT

Plan For Public

Organisation

The town hall promotion committee of the Canterbury Progress League is almost ready to call a meeting to form a public organisation to support the project until it is completed. Mr P. B. Watts reported last evening that in requests to 98 organisations and nine local bodies to appoint representatives, only six had declined. Of 158 individuals approached, only 18 had declined. Replies were awaited from some in both groups and these were holding up progress. His committee wanted to give everyone the fullest opportunity to attend the inaugural meeting. By the assured support of organisations and prominent individuals, confidence would be engendered in the public. The sponsoring committee was already 77 strong, Mr Watts said. About IW-Avere wanted. K A suggested plan of organisation had been prepared and would be circulated to all attending the inaugural meeting.* It envisaged a sponsoring organisation of 100 meeting quarterly and working closely with the City Council; From this organisation a general committee of about 30 could be appointed from which could be selected sub-committees —one to handle canvasses of business houses and public benefactors, door-to-door canvasses, salary deduction contributions and other schemes; another to handle such money-raising efforts as a queen carnival; and an effective publicity committee. A steering committee of 12 could arrange day-to-day management. “Comments Wrong”

“My committee would like to make it very clear here and now that comments published—that our committee would have its ideas and the City Council would nave other ideas—are quite wrong,” Mr Watts said. “We have had nothing but co-oper-ation and considerable interest shown by the Mayor and the Town Clerk, and others with whom we have discussed our proposals. The Mayor (Mr R. M. Macfarlane, M.P.) has offered to convene the inaugural meeting and to preside. I cannot emphasise too strongly that we are working with the City Council in an earnest endeavour to give the support, financial and otherwise, which is required to embark on this project. I am sure this league does not subscribe to the view that a work such as this is not the responsibility of all the citizens of Christchurch.”

The town hall project was not a matter for the city alone, said the chairman (Mr E. F. Ward). All contiguous areas would have a direct interest and there would be few persons in the whole of Canterbury who would not benefit directly or indirectly from Christchurch having a town hall for major functions. The replies to the league’s request for support indicated that this was appreciated.