“Ten-Year Battle" Over Sydenham Clock Ended

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28888, 7 May 1959, Page 14

“Ten-Year Battle" Over Sydenham Clock Ended

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, May 6.

A bracket-type clock will be fitted on the Colombo street wall of the Sydenham Post Office •‘within a week,** according to advice received this afternoon by the Minister of Social Security (Miss Howard) from the Postmaster-General (Mr Moohan).

“So ends a 10-year battle of mine to have something done about the Sydenham clock,” said Miss Howard. “This is just wonderful. For 10 years I have been asking Postmaster-General after Postmaster-General to do something about it. The present clock just cannot be seen unless you are right opposite it—everyone knows that. Mr Moohan has had the matter in hand only a matter of weeks and here it is.’* Miss Howard said that a bracket clock would be seen quite clearly by anyone going in either direction in Colombo street. It would suffice, though it was not quite what she wanted. Her original suggestion had been for the installation of the Sydenham clock in a pedestal of its own on the footpath. “But this will do as well,” she said.

The original Sydenham clock, on a tower on the post office, was removed because the tower was considered an earthquake

risk. It is still in storage awaiting a decision on a suitable site. “That clock is a beautiful one,’’ said Miss Howard. “It was bought by the people of Sydenham many years ago, and it belongs to them. We shall find a worthy place for it some day.’’