MORE UNSIGHTLY HOARDINGS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 146, 16 March 1939, Page 8

MORE UNSIGHTLY HOARDINGS

Attention was called at a meeting of the Paraparaumu Beautifying Societv this week to the number of advertising hoardings which are appearing in the district. It was decided to approach the County Council with a view to having the hoardings removed. I his action represents the latest of many recent protests against the spread ol the hoarding on highways and byways, and in scenic places throughout the Dominion. It offers additional proof of a growing public disapproval of the practice of setting up advertising displays on roadsides and against natural scenic backgrounds. Many modern hoardings are not in themselves objectionable. They are made unsightly by being displayed, blatantly and in incongruous settings. A roadway flanked with printed and painted advei tisements, some of gigantic size, becomes vulgar and unattractive in spite of whatever beauty may lie beyond: indeed,, it may be said with complete truth that every new hoarding detracts to a small but appreciable extent from the value of one of the country s greatest asset-- — its scenic charm. “In addition, an element of danger is introduced. by the placing of displays at points where the attention of motorists should be focused on the road and on approaching traffic It is plain from the rapid increase during recent in ih< number of hoardings erected along arterial routes, such as \\ riling ton’s Hutt Road, that the protests of beautifying societies are no: enough. If an effective check is to be applied, and public interests protected, a uniform system of regulation will have to be devised.