Town Hall Response

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32018, 19 June 1969, Page 18

Town Hall Response

The response to the town hall appeal, which at the end of March had reached $414,000, was indicative of a healthy civic pride in Christchurch, the president of Town Hall Promotion (Sir James Hay) told the organisation’s annual meeting yesterday. Contributions were still coming in, and these were

most welcome, Sir James Hay said. Some people were making bequests in their wills and he hoped this practice would grow. Mr H. G. Hay, the chairman of the general committee and executive, said that extra money which had come in meant that the total raised so far was $425,000, which was a good effort Progress on the town hall was very satisfactory, Mr Hay said. Town Hall Promotion’s first annual meeting was in 1959, and it was interesting to note

that the Christchurch town hall would be in use before the Sydney Opera House, for which fund-raising started in 1954. The organisation hoped for more assistance from the public in furnishing the town hall, Mr Hay said. A national business organisation had indicated a clock would be given, and perhaps people could give such items as a new piano. Officers elected were: President, Sir James Hay; and vice-president, Mr W. J. Cartwright.