Extra museum funds sought in Canty

Press, 18 February 1983, Page 6

Extra museum funds sought in Canty

The Canterbury local bodies which help fund the Canterbury Museum will be asked to pay an extra $159,000 next financia 1 year. The figure will be in addition to the usual levies on local bodies, which will total $512,000. It had been hoped that a new Museum Trust Board Act could have been passed by Parliament last year to enable the board to run a different levy system. No additional payments would have been necessary under the new act. The act will not be read until later this year. The extra payments to the board will mean that local bodies will pay a total of $671,000 in levies on top of $32,000 in loan contributions. The extra money will help meet expected spending of $779,000 listed in the estimates for next financial year, put before the board yesterday. the chairman of the board. Sir Hamish Hay. said that Canterbury people were still getting a museum at a very modest cost. Salaries will be the biggest

single item. The board budgeted $508,000 to pay its staff, compared with $482,000 this financial year. Sir Hamish said that there was bound to be an increase in salaries after the wage freeze was lifted. Other main items were $20,000 toward the cost of new heating equipment and $27,000 for a new roof at the Pacific Hall. New director Yesterday’s board meeting was the last to be attended by Mr J. C. Wilson as the museum's director. He will retire at the end of the month, but will continue to work at the museum in an honorary position. He will be succeeded by Mr M. Trotter. Science centre Mr Trotter will make a report to the board on the possibility of a science centre's being sited in the museum. The board received a letter from the Canterbury Promotion Council outlining plans for-the centre. It considered the museum as a prime site. A steering committee of

the council investigating the possible establishment of a science centre thought it best to add another floor to the Antarctic wing. The cost of building an extra floor would be met by a fund-raising body or trust board. Nuclear display The possibility of housing a display on nuclear arms in the museum will be discussed with a sub-committee of the Christchurch City Council. Deans Cottage The museum has accepted responsibility to improve the displays in Deans Cottage at Riccarton Bush. A $3OOO grant from the Canterbury Savings Bank has made it possible for detailed planning of the improvements to begin. Birds’ eggs The rehousing of the museum's collection of 3400 birds' eggs was completed in January. Mr Wilson said that he was pleased that the "immense task." had been finished by the time he retired.