POSTERS AND SIGNS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 140, 8 March 1919, Page 8

POSTERS AND SIGNS

A MOVE FOR REFORM THE TOWN-PLANNING IDEAL Ono of the aims cf the town-planner is that there shall ho nothing done by any citizen which will tend to destroy the beauty of his city. An spneal is being mado by the 'honorary organiser of the Town-Planning Conference, Air. S. Hurst Seagor, to all business people in the Dominion that they should desist from disfiguring their own and, other buildijigs with big unsightly signs or other Advertising matter. Among the correspondence which Mr. Hurst Seager has received since he has been in charge of the conference scheme, he is most proud of one which he has received froiji a Christchurch business firm. He wrote to that firm suggesting that it should remove from a wa.ll of its building au ugly advertising sijjn. The firm did so, confessing its fault, but saying that it had followed custom in the competition for business. In a circular which the organiser of tho conference is issuing dealing with the competitions which are to bo an. important adjunct of tho deliberations of tho delegates, there is this section referring to r. scheme for the establishment of what is called a "Gallery of Civic Honour" "In all the old cities of the world the growth of the placard mania has been so gradual and insidious thp.t it had become a striking disfigurement to the towns before it was realised what harm was being before any steps whatever were taken to check this parasitic growth. All these cities are now Tying with each other in the endeavour to get rid of the evil. This evil has grown in the same way— but more rapidly—in the Dominion towns, and it lias been done thoughtlessly by following what are considered to be good business methods of the older cities. It can be seen, on -'eflection, that all this huge ugly placarding is absolute waste of money, and thatthe whole of it could be swept away with the greatest. possible advantage. It repels a far greater number. of people than it attracts, and it creates a decided increase in the cost of living. The removal of these placards would 1110110 our cities less irritating, and in some. cases'a civic grace would be created. This advertising is done by many firms and individuals who, we are sure, would, on wish to improve the conditions \%hich exist.

"We are therefore forming a gallery of civic honour, and askinsr those who iioir placard their cities with ugly signs to forward to this gallery a photographic enlargement of the dishgurement as it exists and another one showing the improvement which lias been effected ljy painting the advertisement out. It is hoped a large number of citizens in all parts of the Dominion will enrol themselves as members of this gallery of civic honour. "It is realised that in this competitive ago advertisements are necessary, but Ave want to improve our cities by getting rid of announcements which c.re made in a blatant and vulgar i.-anner."