Museum to review insurance cover

Press, 19 September 1986, Page 5

Museum to review insurance cover

The Canterbury Museum Trust Board is looking at increasing the insurance cover on its exhibits.

At present the museum’s Rolleston Avenue building is covered, but the contents are covered for only $3 million, which is far from their true worth.

According to the museum’s director, Mr Michael Trotter, the present “nominal” cover on the exhibits is not intended to replace the contents should there be a major fire. The exhibits were only partly covered because they were priceless, Mr Trotter said. The board’s finance

committee will discuss options with an insurance broker. Notice The board will ask the Internal Affairs Department for more notice when prominent overseas visitors want to visit the museum, it was decided yesterday.

Mr Trotter told the board that museum staff had had little time to prepare for visits by overseas visitors in the last few months.

The department had given staff 30 minutes notice that the Crown Prince of Tonga would visit the museum, and similar arrangements had been made before a visit by a Chinese Vice-

Premier. The Mayor of Christchurch, Sir Hamish Hay, said better arrangements were needed. “These are distinguished visitors who should be encouraged to see our institutions but they have got to do so efficiently and it has got to be laid out in a programme,” Sir Hamish said. Heating The board accepted a tender for almost $60,000 to improve the heating system in part of the museum. The new system will cover the Centennial Wing, the early Christchurch Street area, and the Hall of Transport.