Free Limes Room refused

Press, 18 December 1985, Page 9

Free Limes Room refused

The Christchurch Town Hall Board yesterday refused a request that the Limes Room be provided free on February 5 for a forum on the Treaty of Waitangi. Mrs Katherine Peet, president of the Canterbury branch of the Workers’ Educational Association, had written to the board on behalf of a group asking for the free use of the room to promote a better understanding of the treaty.

The forum would include people with radical perspectives and those with a sound practical knowledge, including tse Mayor of Waite-

mata; Mr Tim Shadbolt, and representatives of the Ngai Tahu and the Christchurch Bi-cultural Working Group of the Methodist Church.

The Waimairi representative, Cr Hazel Tait, said the board should not set a precedent by granting free rental. There were other more appropriate venues for such a forum.

Decision deferred The manager of the Town Hall, Mr Ray Sleeman, said it was too soon to make any decision on continuing young people’s concerts at the Town Hall. There were problems at the l£t concert, but most of -tpe 1200

people were there to enjoy themselves. Any decision on the future of the concerts should be made early next year, after the next concert, for which there would be better security measures, and changes to the coffee bar. Trip to U.S. Mr Sleeman reported to the board on his recent sixweek trip to the United States, where he visited conference and performing arts centres. The Town Hall was comparable with any performing arts centre in the United States, and was used in a . much more flexible way. ?

Most United States centres separated performing arts and convention facilities. Convention centres were often built with hotel tax funds, he said. Mr Sleeman said that in the United States, convention centres had the primary aim of attracting out-of-town visitors, and booking preference was given to international and national events. The board’s chairman, Sir Hamish Hay, said it was necessary for the Christchurch Town Hall to provide a balance between (local community activiGes and trade exhibitions, f