A HOARDING AT WOOLSTON.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20106, 9 December 1930, Page 10

A HOARDING AT WOOLSTON.

COUNCIL UNDECIDED. NEGOTIATIONS PROCEEDING. Whether the hoarding at the corner oi Oak street and Perry road stands for fifteen months or is removed in three months still remains undecided. After Cr. E. 11. Andrews had assured the City Council last night that Messrs Chandler and Company were only too ready to fall in with any reasonable suggestion, the meeting resolved to wait for a fortnight to aKow Cr. D. G. Sullivan, ono of the parties in the negotiations, to be present. Discussion ensued over Cr. L. B. Ncale's motion, designed to let the hoarding stand till March, 1932, subject to certain conditions. lie moved: "That all resolutions relating to the removal of the hoarding at the corner of Ferry road and Oak street be rescinded on condition that Messrs Chandler and Company, Ltd., give an undertaking in writing to the effect that they will not make any further application for a license for this hoarding and will dismantle and remove it within fourteen days after March 31st, 1932. If this condition is observed the Council will undertake ro renew the license for the hoarding until March 31st, 1932, subject to the license fees being prepaid." In moving, Cr. Neale said that, in the past, the company had suffered thzough the decisions of the Council. He thought that hoardings obscured the view and had a bad psychological effect; but, at the same time, he thought that, if an undertaking was given in writing on the lines of his motion by Chandler and Co., the Council should agree to a renewal of the license of the hoarding being given until March, 1932. City's Sense of Honour. "The City of Christchurch has a sense of honour tho same aa has any other place," remarked Cr. A. W. Beaven. "I think we would bo doing the right thing if we gave the firm permission to retain this particular hoarding for fifteen months. I don't think hoardings should be allowed outside the town belts at all. Within the City they are defensible because they cover up vacant and unsightly sections. But, seeing we did grant this particular license, we must keep to our word. Cr. E. H. Andrews said he and Cr. D. G. Sullivan had sent a telegram to the General Manager of the advertising firm asking if he would agree to the removal of this hoarding to another site. He had replied that he was prepared to meet tho Council in every way possible. Compelling Removal. Further, they must step warily, because they had yet no by-law to compel the removal of the hoarding; it must be done by agreement. The Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer): We can refuse licenses, though. Cr. Andrews: That won't get rid of the hoarding. I can't understand people not realising that the erection of hoardings is a legitimate business worth £20,000 a year in this City, and giving employment to many people. Those who oppose hoardings do not realise that. The Mayor: I would rather pay them a pension to take a holiday. Mr Archer explained that there appeared to be something bewitching about the negotiations with Messrs Chandler and Company, because both Cr. Andrews and Cr. Sullivan had been led astray. They had not been empowered to deal with an alternative site. Now they were asking the Council to do what it had refused to do a fortnight ago: to find an alternative site. Cr. Andrews: The resolution passed contained tho words "from this site," which implied removal to some other site. Wo negotiated on the lines of tho motion empowering us to negotiate. The best thing to do is to defer decision till Cr. Sullivan can be present. He moved that the motion be held over till next meeting. Cr. Neale opposed this course. Cr. E. R. McCombs asked whether, if Cr. Andrew's motion were carried, the hoarding would be removed at the beginning of 1931. Was that the interpretation? The Mayor expressed his determination not to vote for the removal of the hoarding 5' it meant giving a free hand as to where it should be placed. It was maintained by Cr. Andrews that the sole aim of himself and Cr. Sullivan was to get the hoarding removed as quickly as possible. Whatever alternative site was selected it would have to have their approval. It was impossible for them to select another site within a fortnight. Tho amendment of Cr. Andrews was carried.