CHAMBER SEEKS END TO PROGRAMMING

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32313, 3 June 1970, Page 18

CHAMBER SEEKS END TO PROGRAMMING

A request that building programrtiing in Christchurch be discontinued forthwith will be made by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce to the Ministers of Finance and Works (Messrs Muldoon and Allen).

The chamber was told last evening by its industrial and city development committee that the building industry in Christchurch was “far from being over-com-mitted.”

One joinery factory had substantially reduced its l?>our force during the past few weeks because of the instability of the building industry, another firm associated with the trade had gone into voluntary liquidation; and over the last three years at least 400 carpenters and joiners had left the industry, said a report from the committee.

The present unstable economic situation and difficulty in raising finance were restricting activity, and there was little work going out to tender, the report said. There was no suggestion that building programming was not necessary in Welling-

ton and Auckland, where a large amount jf commercial construction was perfectly obvious, and where building costs had risen much faster than the national average. But building costs in Christchurch were below the national average, there was no shortage of labour, and there was no need for restrictions.

High Rise Hotel.—Plans for building a high-rise hotel in Christchurch would be - announced during the next week or so, Mr J. Roysmith told the chamber last evening. However, a second one would be needed soon afterwards—partly to cope with extra traffic generated by the first hotel.

Electricity Tax.—The thamber opposed the application of a petrol tax to support municipal transport services, as proposed by the Carter Report. Mr G. A. Sanders suggested !that it would be fairer to I impose a special tax on electricity for this purpose, as everyone used electricity.

City Monorail.—Mr R. C. Dunn suggested that a monorail overhead railway be built from the airport into the city, to bring passengers in to the new high-rise hotel planned for Christchurch. The proposal received serious support from several speakers. Testing Stations. Commenting on delays in obtaining warrants of fitness. Mr R. C. Wallace said that a member of the chamber had gone first to the Tuam Street station, where there had been a long queue; then to Sockburn, where there had been another; then to Cranford Street, to the longest queue of all; and had finally driven out to Belfast and received his warrant in minutes from a local garage. Resignation.—The resignation of Mr M. L. Newman as vice-president of the Canterbury chamber was accepted “with deep regret." Mr L. A. Holl; nd was elected to fill the post for the remaining four months. Mr Newman, I who resigned for health {reasons, will continue to serve as a member of the ichamber’s council and executive.