RAILWAY HOARDINGS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 January 1926, Page 1

RAILWAY HOARDINGS.

THE LATEST ENTERPRISE

AUCKLAND, January 12.

Tho strong objection which has been taken in Auckland to the covering of every vacant space with unsightly advertising hoardings lias been accentuated by the action of the Railway Department in erecting a large hoarding on the grassy slope facing Domain Drive. Parnell.

The land which is the property of the Department, appears to bo used at present for grazing purposes, and will doubtless return much better revenue when devoted to ail exploitation of some popular beverage, motor tyro or patent medicine. The position from an advertising viewpoint is an excellent one, and a vermilion hoarding is at present the most commanding feature in the landscape to the right of Domain Drive. Residents of the Drive are protesting at the action of the Department in having pushed its utilitarian policy right up to their backdoors, and they say, not without just cause, that the thing will he a blot on the landscape and will mar the natural beauty of the approach to tho Domain and to the War Memorial Museum.

It is understood that representations have been made to the Railway Department’s head office, with a view to having the hand of the despoiler stayed. "The Department will probably make the same reply as it. lias made to the indignant citizens of Wellington and Christchurch, who also have had cause to protest against the plastering of prominent portions of the city with these unsightly hoardings. One outstanding instance was the proposal to erect advertisement signs along the Hutt railway, which has one ol the most beautiful sea outlooks to he obtained in New Zealand.

In erecting Auckland’s latest boarding the same policy has been followed that made the turn into Remuera Road from Broadway a veritable avenue of billboards. A citizen hurrying citywards or Taking the homeward way is now enfiladed by signs bespeaking the virtues of butter, beer, picture shows, pianoloas, motor tyres, cigarettes and other melancholy pictorial defacements. Over on tho railway workshops is a huge cigarette advertisement, and down by the station is a choice assortment of signs denoting tho virtues of various makes of pianos, milking machines, watches and , tombstones. Railway Department hoardings near Breakwater Road from time to time shout the merits of certain brands of whisky, motor oils, cigarettes, floor polish and other domestic necessities. It is all very modern, very utilitarian, very ugly. The same position has arisen in every modern city where exception lias been taken hv the citizens l„ the plastering over of every spare inch of ground with billboards and (laming posters. Gradually all attractive vistas and open spares are being shut out, so that the revenue of corporation or Government mave bo inflated. The necessity for increase of revenue of course, if the burden of the Department's reply, whenever protests are made agaisnt actions such as Hint which has annoyed Parnell folk. The railways, they will he told, must he made to pay. but it seems altogether wrong that they should attain this end at the expense of the esthetic charm of the city. Auckland already has acquiesced in the complete despoliation „r her ben uI. i I'll I waterfront for tlm benefit of the railway. It seems hard that she should have to suitor still further despoliation of the few natural beauties that are left.