HOARDINGS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20094, 25 November 1930, Page 10

HOARDINGS.

PERMITS FOR BUSINESS AfeEAS. COUNCIL'S POSITION. After a lengthy discussion, the City Council decided last night that each application for a hoarding in a business area be considered on its merits, and dealt with accordingly. Previously the By-laws Committee had considered each application, looking into the question of whether the site concerned was in a business or residential area, and made its recommendation accordingly to the Council. In accordance with notice given", Cr. J. W. Beanland moved that the resolution adopted on Februarv Ist, 1920. relating to the granting of licenses for hoardings in business areas be rescinded. In doing so he said that such an action would give the Council a. freer hand in regard to future applications.

Cr. M. E. Lyons suggested that the original tesolution limited the erection of "hoardings to certain localities. The Mayor J. K. Archer) said that lie understood the resolution to mean that while no application for tho erection of hoardings would be granted, the Council had the right to state where in business areas hoardings might bo erected. Cr. Beanland: That is right. Effect on City's Appearance. Cr. D. G. Sullivan said that hoardings gave a City a cheap appearance, and it had to be remembered while the Council up to the present had been dealing with applications from only one company, it would probablv have to consider applications in the future from other concerns. The Mayor said that it had been stated that a license for the erection of a hoarding was similar to that of a hotel, and that when a hoarding was erected it gave its owner a vested interest, with the right of compensation in the event of the license being refused. Council's Powers. Cr. E. H. Andrews said that he had understood that it was Cr. Beanland's intention to move a motion, which would prohibit hoardings altogether, and he (the speaker) congratulated him on the adroit way in which he had got out of it. r There was a large sum of money invested in the industry in Christchurch and employment was given to a large number of people by it. He,did not think that the Council had any power to insist on the removal of hoardings for which licences had been granted. Cr. Beanland said that he would bring forward a resolution in a few weeks' time that the Council should refuse to grant any licenses for hoardings. It was decided that the report of the special committee set up for the purpose of considering and reporting on the question of hoardings erected in the City, adopted by the Council on February Ist, 1926, be amended by revoking Clause 2, and that the following be substituted: That each application for a hoarding in a business area bo considered on its merits, and dealt with accordingly.

TERMINATION OF PERMIT. CLOSE DIVISION IN COUNCIL.

The three months' notice of the termination of the permit for the hoarding at the corner of Oak street and Borry road will stand, the Council last night, on the casting vote of the Mayor, refusing to give the advertising firm a year's grace. This particular hoarding has occupied the attention of the Council on several occasions. Last night the Bylaws and Finance Committee reported that an undertaking in writing had been received from the managing director of Messrs Chandler and Co., Ltd., to the effect that they were always pleased to meet the Council, and that if this hoarding at the corner of Kerry road and Oak street was allowed to remain until the end of the next licensing period —March 31st, 1932 —the company was prepared to have the panels removed to another ute approved by the Council. The Mayor (Sir J. K. Archer) said that thd position was that it was agreed that the hoarding would be definitely removed from where it etood. He did not.think it right, however, that the Council should be pledged to find another site for the hoarding. Against Hoardings. Cr. 1). H. Sullivan: I am against the entire proposition. The people don't want it and iJie Council doesn't want it; but the wishes of the people seem to have been put aside in deference to the wishes of a private company. Ido not regard it as creditable that the Council should go back on its decision. He would vote against the resolution, and so leave the original resolution on the books. The Mavoi : You know I always vote against hoardings, but I don't «ee how we can get past giving the companv a year's grace. Cr. 51. E. Lyons: We may grant the license till December 31st, 1931, but wo cannot pledge ourselves beyond that, because another Council might not tolerate hoardings at all. I would like to congratulate Cr. Sullivan on tho stand he has taken. My memory goes back to past debates when other sentiments were expressed by him. I welcome him to our ranks. Cr. Sullivan: Was Cr Lyons referring to me? If he will look up the records of the' Council debates he will find against hoardings standing in my iiame year after year. Cr. Lyons: You must have slipped once. Cr. Andrews Explains.

Or. E. FT Andrews said that he had not-been influenced by the manager of the company in any way. The Council was not. in his opinion, surrendering its authority in regard to hoard* ings bv acting as proposed. He felt that the people of Woolston were behind the Council in allowing the hoarding to stay where it was for another year. Although there were many people who objected to the hoarding, there were just as many who did not do so. The Mayor • If we approve of this clause we are not only giving these people an extra year, but we have also to find them a. site. Does the olaus© mean that? Members thought that this w*s not implied. The Division. The adoption of the clause was lost on the Mayor's casting vote, the division being:—Ayes: Cns. Butterfield, Armstrong, Beaven, McLachlan, Williamson, J. Porlane. Jones, and Andrew*. No**: Mayer, Or*. Shilli-

van, McComhs, E. -Parkaa, Lyons, Fraer, and Beftawaa. "What happens now f MMff Andrews. "The three months' notio* i remarked the Mayor. Notice of Motion. After tho meeting, Cr. Nttlti KJ notice of his intention to move M nest meeting ;-"That the adopted bv the Council on® 0 ™"? 24th relating to the boardwe corner of Ferry road and OuW, Woolston, be rescinded aa4-.wy>j h . view of all the circunMWf**- if Council consider the renewal license to March 316t, 1931. . In the division. Cr. bm* against the adoption of the d signed to give this rensw&i.