RURAL HOARDINGS

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19147, 2 November 1927, Page 8

RURAL HOARDINGS

MOTORISTS' AGITATION. NOT SATISFIED WITH LAW. For some time the South Island) Motor Union ha 3 been agitating for the prohibition of rural advertising, and at last night's meeting decided to point out to the Government that it had not gone far enough in the matter in the Counties Amendment Act. The Nelson Association telegraphed suggesting that the Union should press for a reduction from five years to three years in the time present hoardings should be allowed to stand, also to push the Act through. Several hoardings were about to be rushed up in Nelson before the Act operated. The opinion was expressed by members that it would be difficult for any Magistrate to rule under the provisions of the Bill that any hoarding would affect injuriously the amenities of any public place. Mr P. W. Johnston said that lie did not know why it should be left to the county councils to make by-laws in this matter. The law of the land should make it illegal to erect advertising hoardings that offended the aesthetic sense. Mr H. C. Harley said there would be no uniformity unless by Act of Parliament. It was agreed that the five years period from the commencement of operation of the by-law for hoardings to remain was too long and! should be reduced to three years. ' The British Imperial Oil Co. wrote that it was intended to re-erect a hoarding, removed from the vicinity of the Styx crossing, on the Christchurch side of the Rakaia bridge, and asked if the Union had any objection to its erection on the site mentioned. The secretary reported that he had seen the manager of the company and had informed him that the Union objected to hoardings being erected! in rural surroundings. suggested that a suitrble site mipit be found near the Rtiliaia township. The manager undertook to communicate with his head office on the subject. The letter was received, and the j action of the secretary was approved.