D.S.I.R. Head Will Open New Science Museum

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31017, 24 March 1966, Page 21

D.S.I.R. Head Will Open New Science Museum

The Director-General of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (Dr. W. M. Hamilton), will officially open the Museum of Science and Industry, Canterbury, at Hornby on Saturday afternoon. On display in a 60ft by 25ft building on the association’s one-acre site in Garvins road will be exhibits provided by the National Airways Corporation, the Post Office, the New Zealand Army, the Crown Crystal Glass Company Ltd., C. W. F. Hamilton, Ltd., the Electricity Department, Gough, Gough and Hamer, Ltd., the Lyttelton Harbour Board, the Transport Department, and the Railways Department. Members of the Association of Friends of the Museum of Science and Industry prepared the site and renovated the building. The purchase of the site was made possible by donations and subscriptions from many citizens, organisations, and industrial enterprises. For the time being the maintenance of the museum will depend on such voluntary finance.

1, is expected that the museum will be open between 2 pjn. and 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Eventually the association expects to have visits from school parties. Members of the association will staff the museum.

The president of the association (Mr M. A- Connelly, M.P.), yesterday said that the museum was a miniature of the ultimate museum, to be built at Ferrymead. “Our idea is to coordinate with the Jayceea, who have set out to reconstruct historic

Ferrymead. We think that in the long run if funds become available the Ferrymead area will be a good place for the museum to grow to its full maturity,” said Mr Connelly. The museum would not be just for antique machinery, said Mr Connelly. “Our aim is to trace the growth of various types of machinery and science from its beginnings to the present day. Most exhibits will be working exhibits.”

Exhibits will be changed from time to time. Many working push-button models will appear in later displays. Although a permanent museum would eventually be erected at Ferrymead, the Garvins road site would still be used for many years for exhibitions of machinery. The association, said Mr Connelly, would never have enough space for storage and any buildings on the Garvins road property were likely to remain there for a very long time.

Mr Connelly said toe museum in Garvins road would endeavour to show developments in manufacturing and agriculture and how these developments bad speeded production and provided better products.

“We believe that this will be helpful to both primary and secondary producers, who could look back and trace what has been done and so be aided to visualise possible lines for future development. We feel that this is one reason why manufacturing and agricultural interests should stand behind us in our future appeals for financial support” he aatd.