C.U.C. to ‘take over’ museum?

Press, 18 June 1982, Page 4

C.U.C. to ‘take over’ museum?

A delegation from the Canterbury Museum Trust Board will meet the Canterbury United Council on Monday to discuss the handling of the museum’s affairs. The trust board’s chairman, Sir Hamish Hay, told a meeting of the board yesterday that the deputation would meet the council with no “firm policy” in mind. At present the possibility of the council’s taking the

museum under its wing as a regional function is only being discussed. Sir Hamish said that the council might not want to take the function on but at least it was being considered. There could, however, be financial advantages if the museum was to become a function of the council.

He suggested that the board could discuss the matter with the council, then “come back and consider the future of this board.” A board member, Mr I. G. Clark, said that while he was “reluctant” to see the board lose its identity he was prepared to listen to overtures from other groups. “I believe that the strength of the Canterbury Museum Trust Board is that it is not involved in party politics,” he said. The Canterbury Museum expects to spend $699,090 this financial year. Most ,of this will go on salaries.

The board has also allowed $20,000 for the first stage of a heating plant, and $32,000 for heating and lighting expenses.

It hopes to receive $600,000 from levies and ex-gratia payments, compared with the $504,000 it received last year, after budgeting for $517,000.