Last week’s column reckoned that Sir Robert Jones’s economic impact assessment tallying the merits of a five kilometre high statue of Gareth Morgan was sounder than rather a few economic impact assessments.
 
The case for the statue is especially strong where the construction costs would be borne by the population of North Korea. Economic impact reports will typically ignore costs incurred by those outside of the evaluation. And so the costs borne by poor North Koreans in helping to fund the thing are out of scope.
 
But the column may have left readers with the wrong assessment of Sir Robert’s intent. It said that the proposal was “presumably tongue-in-cheek”.
 
We have been informed otherwise. And lest the record stand in error, here is Sir Robert’s letter in its entirety. But note that we have not independently verified the claims.
 
Dear Dr Crampton,
 
Your report on the long overdue Morgan statue has been shown to me.  Plainly there has been a misunderstanding.  It most certainly was not a “tongue in cheek” proposal.  The widespread affection and admiration for Mr Morgan demands nothing less.
 
For example, indicative of the emotion stirred by this announcement, the chief Ombudsman Mr Peter Boshier, has generously offered himself as a ceremonial human sacrifice when the foundation stone is laid.  He won’t take no for an answer.
 
As for the difficulties you describe there’s a simple solution, namely ask Mr Morgan.  I gather that following imminent publication of his next two books (“Why Einstein’s Theory of Relativity Is Wrong” and “The Cure for Cancer”) written simultaneously, a pen in each hand, Mr Morgan will then be available to address your concerns.
 
I hope this is helpful.
 
Yours sincerely,
Sir Robert Jones
 
As an evidence-based think-tank, we welcome this clarifying feedback. We also thank Sir Robert for assuring us that this corrective mitigates any libel risk we might have faced in suggesting he may have spoken with tongue in cheek.
 
I will perform the necessary corrective purification rituals before the statue on its construction. It would not hurt me, I expect, to gather a few laurel leaves.
 
As my first penitential offering, I note that Morgan was dead right in last week’s NBR about the importance of spending scarce conservation dollars carefully.