INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE HALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16748, 1 June 1922, Page 5

INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE HALL.

» A BILL DRAFTED.

The proposal to establish a Hall of Industries and Commerce, containing an industrial, commercial and agricultural exhibition, a. library, and a common meeting hall, was discussed by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce last night, on a report regarding the steps taken by the joint committee of the Chamber, the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, the Industrial Association and the Progress League. Mr W. M. Tyers, on behalf of the committee, outlined what had been done towards obtaining a lease of the City Council Chamber, and stated that the" committee recommended that the bodies concern' d should await the result of the introduction of a Bill by the City Council enabling the council to enter into negotiations for a lease to the bodies concerned immediately on entering mi to its new chambers. It had been hoped that the council would have discussed the matter, but the Mayor had forwarded a draft Bill, now before the By-laws Committee, empowering the council to enter into a lease, not necessarily with the highest tenderer, at a rental not less than 5 per. cent on the capital value. He moved that the Chamber should adopt the recommendation of the committee. Mr E. H. Mvles said that the Bill might easily be lost, and the Chamber ought to make representations to the Government on the subject.

Mr Tyers said that the Chamber could support the council in approaching the Prime Minister. Mr H. Holland said that some years ago. when a j>oll was taken on the purchase of the Canterbury Hall, both the Harbour Board and the Education Board were viedng eagerly for the tenancy of the old building, at a rental of something like £450 a year. The report was adopted.