MILK SHARE MONEY

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29767, 9 March 1962, Page 18

MILK SHARE MONEY

Use For Town Hall Opposed

The proposal that all or a substantial part of the £lOO.OOO received by the City Council for its sale of ahares in the Christchurch Milk Company. Ltd., should be devoted to the town hall fund did not appeal to Cr. H. P. Smith, chairman of the council's finance committee, yesterday.

Discussing the proposal of the executive of Town Hall Promotion, he said permanence. in a city amenity could be achieved just as well in several directions as by pitting the whole of the money into the town hall fund.

While he appreciated the enthusiasm of the executive, the city had already provided £200.000 towards the town hall in gifts and from rates. Cr. Smith said. There were other interests that could well be considered now.

Three projects commended themselves, he continued. The council had already given it* approval to the use of some of the £lOO.OOO as an offer to the Government by way of loan for its share of the cost of extending the runway at the Christchurch airport to take pure jets. The cost of the extension was estimated at not less than £30.000.

Another project which had a claim was the Hoon Hay library, he said. A library there, in a comparatively recently-developed area containing many young couples and children, would cost between £lO.OOO and £12.000. A third case warranting consideration was an alternative sports ground to English Park, which w»s in a shocking condition, he said. There, the council should either spend a considerable sum to provide proper amenities or consider providing alternative ground* suitable for Soccer, hockey, cycling and athletics. The three projects he had mentioned could use a substantial part of the proceed* from the sale of the «h»res. he said. No doubt there were other subjects councillor* would feel were entitled to consideration before the town hall project.