RURAL HOARDINGS

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19149, 4 November 1927, Page 10

RURAL HOARDINGS

S.I.M.U.'S ATTITUDE.

LETTER SENT TO MINISTER. Tie executive of the South, Island Motor Union recently discussed Seetioa 8 of the Counties Amendment Bill which grants a Council "power to make by-laws for the regulation and control of hoardings, and similar structures used, or intended to be used, for the purpose of advertising; also for regulating restricting, or prohibiting the exhibition of advertisements in such places and in such a manner, or by such means as to affect injuriously the amenities of any pubhe place used by the public for purposes of recreation or enjoyment,.,or to disfigure or injuriously affect the natural beauty of a landscape, or the view of rural scenery from any public place." * J

Mr P. E. Harman, secretary to the Union, has since been instructed to write to the Minister for Internal Af. fairs, stating that the Union's executive considers it a pity that the matter was left to be controlled by Countv Councils merely by by-law. It is suggested that the objects to be attained should be done straight-out by Statute, and it is claimed that the wording of the section is such that the average advertisement on a signboard or hoarding- would not come within its provisions.

It is considered that it would be exceedingly difficult, if hot imposssible, to get any Court to hold that these average advertisements, to which the executive objects, affect injuriously the amenities of a public place, or disfigure, or injuriously affect tho natural beauty of a landscape. The executive trusts that it is not too late to give effect to its suggestions, and to widen the scope of the Statute so as to give a County Council power to control the erection of all hoardings and similar structures for advertising purposes by enacting that none such shall be erected or used without the consent of the County Council and subject to such conditions as the County Council may in each case define.

The executive is also of the opinion that the period of exemption (5 years) is too great, and would urge that it be reduced to three years. Information has been received to the effect that a large number of hoardings were being rushed up before the Act came into operation, in consequence of which it waß desirable that the matter be expedited.