Clock Tower Proposal for Feilding

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 58, 11 March 1944, Page 6

Clock Tower Proposal for Feilding

BOROUGH COUNCIL DISCUSSION. “I do not think the question is answerable with a plain Yes or No at this stage,” said the Mayor (Mr. I. K. Seddon) at Thursday’s meeting of tne Feilding Borough Council after the reading of a letter from the Chamber of Commerce asking for the approval of the Council to a proposal to erect a clock tower at the centre of the intersection of Kimbolton Road and Manchester Street. Mr. Seddon went on to express the hope that his remarks would not be interpreted as being in any way hostile to the proposal. First he thought the Council should know something about the size of the proposed tower; in fact there should be some plan offered to enable the position to be appreciated. The Council would have to consider, he suggested, the blocking of the highway aud would desire to know whether it was intended that the square as it existed at present was to be closed. The Council was not in a position to know whether the proposed tower, erected as suggested, would become a nuisance. There was also the question of maintenance, lighting, etc. At the same time the Council would require to consider whether or not some re-arrangement of the square would be desirable together with the cost of same and whether the cost should be borne byratepayers. There was the further question as to whether such a work should bo undertaken during the war period. His opinion, in view of the many questions arising, was that the question should be referred to a cornice to go into the whole question and that committee could co-opt the services of those interested in the project. It would be appreciated that the Council could not give a direct answer right away but he did not think that there was any question of the answer being The offer of the Chamber of Commerce to lind the cost of the tower was a very generous one, said Cr. A. C. McCorkindale, and was to be commended. He agreed that the Council should go into the question of a comprehensive scheme for remodelling the square. Cr. P. G. Guy recalled that the Council had previously mentioned the question of a clock tower and had asked Cr. Burne to bring down a report. This had been done and dealt with the Gisborne clock tower which was estimated to cost round about £I4OO. He heartily

supported the idea of a clock tower erected on the site suggested together with remodelling the square which he suggested might bo undertaken progressively. He thought the Council should accord its wholehearted support and leave it to a committee to work out the details. Meanwhile the Chamber of commerce could proceed with the collections of subscriptions and donations towards the cost of the tower in anticipation of the Council adopting a scheme for rearranging the square. “Up to a point I favour the idea/’ said Cr. W. W. Andrews. Years ago he said there was an objection to anything in the centre of the square. The South African war memorial was placed in the square and then moved to its present site. He objected to putting the tower in the centre of the square because he felt it would become a nuisance and an obstruction. His idea would be to have the tower erected in one of the plots. Cr. L. Bould favoured a re-arrange-ment of the square and this would remove any obstruction. He would support the erection of the proposed tower in the centre of the intersection which would disappear with the square altered. Saying that everyone was keen on the idea of a clock tower and would support the proposal, Cr. A. C. Buist agreed with the proposition that the whole question including the remodelling of the square should be referred to a committee to investigate and report on a scheme. Meanwhile he felt that the Chamber of Commerce could go ahead with collecting subscriptions towards the cost. “There is no question that tho whole town has missed the clock and its reerection was very necessary, “ declared Cr. S. Smith. The Chamber of Cominei'cc had certainly started something which was worthwhile and should be commended, lie agreed with the idea of setting up a committee to deal with the position but disagreed with the suggestion that there would be any obstruction in erecting the tower at the ccntro of the intersection. As he visualised the proposal tho erection of tho clock tower in the centre of the square and the remodelling of the square, was a step in tho direction of conforming to modern ideas in the matter of traffic control. It would tend to slow up traffic and remove the danger which existed at present. In England action on similar lines had been taken with very satisfactory results and he felt that the scheme as he visualised it’ had everything to commend it. Cr. It. Burno strongly supported tho proposal to have the clock tower erected in the centre of the intersection combined with a remodelling of the square and he hoped that a committee would bo set up right away to go into the whole question. Cr. C. B. McClure was strongly in favour of the scheme also but felt that the work could not be started until tho Council had agreed on proposals for tho reorganisation of the square. lie visualised tho existing squares being drawn into one whole with the traffic going round the outside. This would be ideal and would certainly tend to slow traffic up and at the same time give Feilding a handsome square. The discussion closed with agreement to refer the proposal to the combined works and reserves committees with power to co-opt. the assistance of representatives of the Chamber of Commerce.