Public ‘kept in the dark’

Press, 12 August 1980, Page 18

Public ‘kept in the dark’

Members of the public Christchurch have been “kept, in the dark” regarding the availability of an electronic organ for the Christchurch Town Hall, according to Mr J. M. Daglish, the director of Deoco Organs, Ltd.

In a letter to the Christchurch Civic Music Council, Mr Daglish said he was concerned tiiat no serious approach had been made about the viability and cost of an electronic organ. Consideration was being given to the provision of a pipe organ. He said a pipe organ would cost $300,000, which would rise to $500,000 over the next, three years at the present rate of inflation. But an electronic organ could be provided at a tenth of the cost. .

Electronic organs had been successfully used in the Town Hall and in Christchurch Cathedral. A f o u r-manual electronic

organ, which would be “ideal” for the Town Hall, would be available early next year, he said. However, the chairman of the Christchurch Civic Music Council (Mr E. G. Rowell) said the council was not interested in an electronic organ. It would not be suitable for all occasions.

“In spite of recent advances in technology, which have been considerable, we believe electronic organs have quite severe limitations,” he said.

A meeting would be held at the Town Hall on August 18, at which the council would explain what it saw as the most desirable type of organ, its cost, and suppliers. The meeting would also examine ways of financing an organ, said Mr Rowell. Representatives of service clubs would be invited. A special fund .for the Town Hall organ had a little more than $60,000, he said.'