Reluctant member

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33653, 1 October 1974, Page 1

Reluctant member

The Waimairi County Council should not be a member of the Civic Orchestra Foundation Board, nor have representation in the administration of the arts, said Cr C. R. Harman, the council’s board member. Cr Harman said he did not agree with the announcement on Friday by the heads of three of the supporting local bodies that they would withhold grants until a satisfactory solution of the orchestra’s problems had been found. The council, along with

the other bodies, was entitled to representation on the board, and because of this, it was part of the administration. The council had a duty not to act unilaterally, if a majority board decision was not to its liking, by threatening to withdraw its grant. Waimairi, said Cr Harman, was committed, and had in fact paid this year’s grant to the orchestra. If the council were a contributor with no representation, it would be entitled to say that the situation was such that it would not make future grants until the administration attained stability, he said. Cr Harman, opposing council membership of the board,

said councillors were grossly. overworked. Out of 1100 or 1200 orchestra subscribers, it was reasonable to assume I that an efficient board could be found. The Symphonia of Auck-i land had no local body mem-i bers on its board, and was in the position that the Christ-! church Symphony Orchestra' should have been in, with a $llO,OOO grant from the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council. “The council can safeguard its position by inspecting the annual accounts, and in other ways,” said Cr Harman. “If the council is not satisfied, it can withdraw its support in favour of a more deserving cause."