Summer Times ’85 plans have begun

Press, 30 July 1985, Page 9

Summer Times ’85 plans have begun

Planning for Summer Times 1985 has begun and five people have been employed by the Christchurch City Council to work on the programme. The Labour Department has approved 33 positions under employment schemes but most of these will not be filled until nearer the starting date of December 10. At present employed are the controlling supervisor, programme and promotion supervisors, a typist and administration officer. The council’s recreation manager, Mr Alan Patterson, said there might be some difficulty in filling all of the positions requested through the Labour Department. But if three-quarters of the positions were filled, there would be no real problem, he said. He acknowledged that there seemed to be a shortage of people but told Christchurch City councillors yesterday that the

Labour Department helped by sending people to Summer Times. The 1984-85 Summer Times programme was judged a great success by members of the council’s cultural and public relations committee. Financially the programme stands at a loss of $19,732 but recoveries of wages under P.E.P. schemes of $21,922 would put the programme into credit by $2860. Mr Patterson said the proposed programme for the next Summer Times included four or five theme afternoon events in Hagley Park, eight to 10 evening events in the park or the Arts Centre, lunch-time entertainment in Cathedral Square and suburban centres, and closer liaison with community groups which could organise their own activities. Several city businesses had been approached for sponsorship and more proposals were being prepared,

he said. A 10-minute slide-tape presentation, shown to yesterday’s meeting of the committee, was being used to promote the programme. Cr Noala Massey said it was hard to imagine a summer without Summer Times. Visitors and the people of Christchurch alike expected it and the council should provide it. The programme was a great success and had to be maintained, she said. Other councillors agreed. The committee decided against a proposal to combine the Summer Times programme and the Arts Employment Scheme, opting to follow a management executive recommendation to keep the two schemes separate. The council will discuss the Arts Employment Scheme with the Arts Centre Trust. The scheme is based in premises in the Arts Centre.