CLOCK TOWERS

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24587, 8 June 1945, Page 3

CLOCK TOWERS

MR SEMPLE DEFINES HIS POSITION REMOVAL OF DANGERS TO PUBLIC An explanation of his position in the clock tower controversy was given yesi terday by the Minister of Works (the Hon. R. Semple). He said the Public Works Department was just the instrument for the Post and Telegraph Department, which had become worried about the safety of top-heavy clock towers. The Minister said the Post and Telegraph Department had asked for an investigation of the safety of clock towers, and then for the removal ot those which were not considered safe. “It is utterly absurd to suggest that I get any pleasure out of pulling down clock towers,” said Mr Semple. “I would not dream of doing such a thing unless on the advice of the organisation responsible for the protection of the lives of the people. “What would be the position if the Post and Telegraph Department asked the Public Works Department to take down the towers they alleged to be dangerous and I, as an individual, refused to allow it to happen and people were killed? The very people condemning me now for doing what I never personally decided to do would yell for my blood and hold me responsible for the death of the people killed It is more than I dare do in the circumstances. “It has been said there have been no earthquakes in the South Island Who knows in an earthquake country, when these shakes come? All the Post and Telegr. ph sought to do was to be sure no more people would be killed by , falling clock towers, towers that were wrongly constructed in the first place. “It has been said I was persuaded by certain persons to change my opinion. It was never, in the first place, my opinion, and when I discovered there were public protests I decided not to postpone the taking down of the towers, but to have a further investigation. I have asked the cities concerned to take a share of the responsibility by joining their engineers in the investigation. “If those towers fall in the future and it is insisted that they stop in place, then my hands and those of the Post and Telegrrph Department are clean. Someone else will take the responsibility. I refuse to in view of what has happened in the past.’*