Development Corp, directors named

Press, 9 December 1983, Page 5

Development Corp, directors named

Directors of the new Canterbury Development Corporation — designed to fight unemployment and promote investment in the province — were named yesterday. Public financial support for the corporation will be sought early next year during a fund-raising campaign that hopes to raise at least $500,000 of its initial funds from companies and individuals.

A $500,000 grant has already been made by the Christchurch City Council.

Sir James Stewart, principal of Lincoln College and first chairman of the development corporation’s board, announced the list of directors. He said an announcement of the selection of a chief executive, who would start work on January 16, would be made soon. Sir James said the new board represented a wide range of experience. Members had horticultural, agricultural, engineering, accountancy, manufacturing, retailing, banking, and administrative experience.

While the board had been forming the company and selecting a chief executive, it had examined ways of encouraging local businesses to move into new developments.

It had studied the promotion of Canterbury’s potential as an investment centre overseas, and looked at ways similar overseas corporations had successfully developed their local areas.

The Canterbury Development Corporation will have its offices in the new Canterbury Centre office tower.

The board members are: Ms Vicki Buck, a Christchurch City councillor, and Messrs David Bowron, managing director of G. L. Bowron, Ltd; David Cooper, managing director of Cooper Henderson Motors; Frank Dickson, general manager of the Canterbury Savings Bank; lan Howell, director of the Canterbury Manufactuerers’ Association; Phillip Phillips, managing director of Mount Cook Group, Ltd; Don Sollitt, managing director of

P.D.L. Industries, Ltd; Bob Todd, secretary of the Canterbury Engineers’ Union; and Gerald Ward, a horticulturalist.

The corporation’s solicitor is Mr D. J. Stock, and its secretary is Mr S. W. Bullen, an accountant.

Sir James said the corporation’s formation had already involved a lot of work. “We are now confident that it will become well known in its work in promoting Canterbury,” he said.

The formation had established a base from which work towards economic growth could be done.

Sir James thanked other business leaders and local body officers who had helped in the corporation’s establishment.

The Otago Development Corporation, formed more than a year ago, recently announced plans to float four independent public companies by mid-1984. Food processing, tourism, gold mining, and marketing projects were chosen for immediate action.