“CITY DISFIGURED”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26639, 9 December 1947, Page 6

“CITY DISFIGURED”

ADVERTISING ON BUSES AMENITIES SOCIETY’S PROTEST A strong protest against the “ flamboyant nature of the advertising ” on some of the City Corporation’s buses was made by Mr J. L. Salmond at a meeting of the committee of the Dunedin Amenities Society yesterday. After a discussion it was decided, on the motion of'Mr G. S. Kirby, to draw the attention of the Transport Committee of the City Council to the matter. Mr Salmond said it appeared to him that the corporation was so hard up that it had to' turn the buses into “ travelling hoardings.” The society had made effective protests against railway hoardings. The chairman (Mr G. Simpson): The trams and buses are losing money. Mr E. S. Green said there could be no objection to small advertisements inside.

Mrs H. L. Cook: It is our duty to protest.

Mr W, M. Wilkinson: There is a good reason for it.

Mr Salmond: There is no reason except the financial aspect. There is no justification for disfiguring the city in this way. The chairman suggested that the committee could do something when it was in possession of all the facts.

Mr J. Wilson: The damage has been done, and the advertisements will be on the buses for the next 20 years. All the society could do is to make a : protest.

Mr Kirby said he agreed with Mr Salmond that a protest should be made against the big advertisements that were appearing on £ome of the buses. Unfortunately, big display advertising was to be found on buses all over the world. “London trams have had them since 1880,” he said. Lindsay’s Creek

Mr E. S. Green reported on the condition of Lindsay’s Creek, particularly in the section adjacent to the Botanic Gardens. A good deal of spoil was being brought down and deposited along the banks, he said. The chairman said that the superintendent of reserves, Mr M. R. Skipworth, was very concerned about the position. To clear the creek would involve a lot of work.

Mr Wilson said the creek had been an eyesore for a long time. It was decided to write to the Works Committee on the matter.

It was decided to make further inquiries regarding the removal of electric light poles from the Park terrace side of the Oval.

A letter was received from the Kaikoral Ratepayers’ Association asking the society to take some action to have seats erected in Ellis Park.

It was explained by the chairman that two seats had been promised for the playground in Fraser’s Gully, and two for the children’s playground in Ellis Park. The society was to contribute £lO and the Kaikorai Ratepayers’ Association £s.—lt was decided that the chairman should see the chairman of the Reserves’ Committee. Cr D. C. Jolly. Women’s Rest Room “ The matter is in hand. The plans have been prepared, and we are waiting for a permit to go on,” commented Mr Salmond when the questionl of the proposed women’s rest room in the Octagon came before the meeting. He did not think anything the society could do would be of any assistance. —lt was decided to take no action. Present at the meeting were Messrs Simpson, A. C. Cameron, Salmond, Wilkinson, W. P. Birchall, Green. D. Tannock, R. Fountain, Kirby, Wilson, Martin, Dr Charles Begg, Dr A. H. McLintock, and Mrs Cook.