BALLANTYNE'S TO REBUILD

Chronicle (Levin), 22 November 1947, Page 5

BALLANTYNE'S TO REBUILD

CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 20. The directors of Ballantyne 's, Ltd., have already decided to rebuild and will seek the necess.ary permits without delay. Before work can start, Iiqwever, it will probably be necessary to clear the whole site, for most of the remaining brick and stone work has been damaged by fire. Alr. R. H. Ballantyne, one of the directors, said this morning that the

firm was anxious to become 're-establish-ed without delay. In the rebuilding, materials not used for housing would oe employed so that there would be no drain on essential supplies. A fully representative meeting ot the Canterbury Drapery Hetailers' Association decided unanimously this morning that help should be given in every way possible to enable the firm to re-establish ifself as qiiickly as possible. Tfiis meeting expressed t]ie deepest sympathy of'tlie managements ana stuffs of the drapery firms pf Christchurch with the relntives oi' the victims of the disaster. In view of the unique position which Ballantyne 's held in the business community, it was the unanimoys wish of the meeting that the. firm should be reestablished qu a permanent basis at the earliest opportunity. To this end those present undertook to .make stock availaliJe when the firm was ahle to restart business, aud, until theig to help in the absorbing on a tempqf-ary basjs of members of the staff. '