Month’s grace on proposal

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32797, 23 December 1971, Page 14

Month’s grace on proposal

The Town Hall Committee has delayed the appointment of a manager for the new Town HaD, while it considers a suggestion from the Canterbury Progress League that the Canterbury Public Relations Office take over the administration and promotion of the complex . " .

The committee decided at its meeting on Tuesday to defer consideration of the short list compiled from 35 applications for the job until January 31. It will give the league until then to present a more detailed report on the practicality and economics of the proposal put to the committee by the league's president (Mr D. B. Rich). “UNWORKABLE” The chairman of the committee (Cr H. G. Hay), has said, however, that he is not convinced that the proposal is workable. "While I entirely agree that promotion of the Town Hall should properly be one of the activities of the Canterbury Public Relations Office, the administration and management of this large, s3m complex is entirely a different matter.

"The Town Hall, especially in the first few years of its operation, will need the undivided. enthusiastic, dedicated attention of a highly-com-petent manager.” Cr Hay said that this person would have to be skilled 'in all aspects of management, promotion and public 1 relations, with a good know- ; ledge of the arts and the entertainment business. Some ; of the applicants for the post —which carries a maximum salary of s64l4—had “been of a very high calibre.” TWO MASTERS

He could not see how the present Public Relations Officer could combine this activity with his many other important duties, some of which would take him away from Christchurch. “Nor can I see how the organisational problems in which a person will be responsible to two masters (the Town Hall Committee and the Progress League) will be satisfactorally overcome,” Cr ■Hay said. “Although the committee has shown itself willing to look at the proposal, it has been stressed that the desirability of an early manager’s appointment for the Town

Hall is urgent, and we do not want undue delays.” GENERAL OVERHAUL The proposal might serve a useful purpose, however, in

enabling a critical look to be taken of the whole functioning of the Public Relations Office, which many people considered was due for an overhaul.

“It could also prompt some consideration of the rationalising of the administration of certain cultural organisations in Christchurch which are already enjoying local-body support, such as the Christchurch Civic Orchestra Foundation, the Christchurch Civic Music Council and the Christchurch Arts Festival.

“There might well be economies possible if some of these activities were associated with the Town Hall management in some way, apart from possibly enabling a more vital role in artistic activities to be achieved,” said Cr Hay. “This aspect may have more to commend it than a take-over bid by the Canterbury Progress League of the management of the Town Hall.”