MUNICIPAL THEATRE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16470, 5 July 1921, Page 6

MUNICIPAL THEATRE.

PLANS BEING PREPARED. DESTINY OF OLD COUNCIL CHAMBERS. Plans for the proposed municipal theatre will probablv be presented at next meeting of the City Council. “ What is being done as far as the municipal theatre is concerned?” asked Councillor C. W. Hervey at last evening’s meeting. The Mayor (Dr Thacker. M.P.), said that the special committee had gone into the question of erecting -a utility hall, obtaining the ideas of the architects and looking over sketch plans. Proposals were made for the erection of a municipal theatre alongside the council’s new administrative block in Manchester Street, and the committee was now awaiting a reply from the architects. He hoped that the nlnns would be readv for next council meeting, so that the loan proposals could be put before the ratepayers with as little delay as possible. Councillor H. F. Herbert was appointed a member of the special Offices Committee, in place of ex-Councillor C. P. Agar.

Councillor H. T. Armstrong asked whether legislation was being framed with regard to the lease of the present municipal chambers when the council moved to its new offices.

The Mavor: Legislation is being prepared to secure this building for the city for all time, so that it won’t become a commercial building. The bodies using the premises will be the Industrial Association, the Chamber of Commerce and tho Progress League. Councillor J. K. Archer: Is it intended to incorporate in the Act that these people are to have the lease without competition P The Mayor replied that one intention was that big local bodies should have preference. No particular organisation or body would be mentioned in the Act. Councillors could rest assured that there would be no “hole and corner ” busiae^-