The day the cross came down

When the cross on top of the clocktower was blown down by wind back in March, I missed seeing it before what remained was taken down. In conversation with a friend today, I was informed about a series of photographs that captured the removal. The photographs are well worth looking at and can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/obsethive/sets/72057594095478604/

There is no doubt that the clocktower with the cross on top was a city icon. Whether the Christmas decoration (which it was originally) should have ever been fixed in place permanently or not is a moot point now. The wind brought that cross down in the midst of a debate that had been raging for close to twelve months. A new cross would have cost a lot of money, but so does any other appendage on top of the clocktower. Councillors were evenly split between those who wanted a Christian cross put back on the clocktower and those that felt religious symbolism has no place on civic buildings. For me, my stance had nothing to do with the cross debate.

I love architecture and fought hard (prior to being elected to council) to stop the Ladies Rest from being incorporated into the i-Site. Palmerston North has lost a lot of stunning buildings over the years and I still dislike the BNZ on the corner of Rangitikei Street and The Square. I defy anyone to try to tell me that the ugly building we have there has more architectural merit than the wonderful old building it replaced. Many people look at the clocktower and say its an ugly and uninspiring lump of concrete. To me, though, it is a classic example of reinforced concrete architecture and its very simplicity is evocative of the era. It’s lines and simplicity of design are reflected in the battleship we call the civic administration building and the two complement each other nicely (although a paint job on the civic administration building certainly wouldn’t go amiss).

When the Hopwood family said they didn’t want anything on top of the clocktower their family donated to the city, I felt their wishes should have been respected. I also agreed with the Historic Places Trust who want the clocktower restored as close as possible to the original. Councils safety through design experts don’t feel that reinstating the sound shell is wise, and I reluctantly accept their point of view. Clear sight lines across The Square are important. I can’t help being nostalgic about the sound shell though. In my early teens, the sound shell was where the Queen stood and addressed the crowds, including the school children who had waited patiently (was I the only one disappointed she didn’t wear a crown?). The Massey capping parades made good use of it and it was the stopping point for the anti-Vietnam rallies I sneaked off to watch. In my later teens, the sound shell was the gathering place where, on New Year’s Eve, a piper would play his bagpipes and the girls would take bets as to who would get to kiss a policeman.

But, safety must come first, despite the uses a reinstated sound shell could be put to. And today, the decision of the independent commissioner was announced, granting permission to extend the height of the clocktower. In line with a narrowly-won council decision, this means that a nasty modern lantern, complete with coloured lights, will be placed upon what has been recognised in architectural journals as an outstanding example of 1950’s design.

The problem I have with the lantern is this - nobody has been asked if they want it! Many of the submissions to the resource consent argued against it being granted on the basis that the submitter wanted a cross put back. I am not sure how effective that argument was as the hearing was only to establish whether or not the height of the clocktower could be increased. So, with the decision, those who want a cross are not happy, those who want the clock tower restored to its original state are not happy, and council will be proceeding with a lantern that not only is not wanted by many councillors but which has not had any indicative support from the community. The cross debate is one which has come up in both the community and in council regularly over the past 20 or so years since the cross became a permanent fixture. When I proposed an alternative solution of reinstating the clocktower to its original design and putting a cross on top at Easter and Christmas, no other councillors supported me. From 1960 to the early 1980s, a temporary cross was put on top of the tower every Christmas. We have had a temporary cross for almost the same length of time we have had a permanent cross. I would have liked this option to have been put to the community for comment, but like anything in a democracy, we can’t always get what we want.

The clocktower will not be completed until next year. The clock is not due to be ready for reinstatement until at least March 2007. Elections are being held less than six months later and this is an ideal time to hold a referendum. While many people have been active in promoting their views on the cross debate in letters to the editor (and to council), the majority have remained silent on the issue. A referendum would give everyone the opportunity to state what they want and would give an incoming council a clear direction about what the community wants. Sure, referendums cost money. But so do crosses and lanterns. If council does not get this decision right, the issue will come up again in the future, as it has time and again since the 1980’s. It is time to put this matter to rest and to find out just what everyone in our community wants.