NO GOOD EXAMPLE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 34, 3 May 1927, Page 9

NO GOOD EXAMPLE

ARCHITECTS PEEVED AUCKLAND’S MARRED BEAUTY If it cannot attain its objectives byfair means the newly-formed TownPlanning Association in Auckland has given fair warning that it intends to resort to foul —and according to expressions made at the meeting last evening the order of attack will be officials of (1) Public Works Department (2) Railway Department, (3) Postal Department, (4) local bodies, and (5) all other offenders in the matter of hoardings and ill-placed advertisements. The threat arose from a remark by the Rev. Mr. Niblock, that his first impression of Auckland was that the worst sinners in the city were the architects, a remark that successfully drew a reply from several members of that profession who were present. The chairman, Mr. Vaile, said the position was that the architects were not allowed the necessary finance to do the work properly, and they were set a very bad example by the actions of Government and local bodies. “To secure our ends I think we

might start by murdering the officials of the Public Works Department who have been taking a couple of hundred feet off Mount Albert, and despoiling Campbell’s Point,” he said. “ We might follow with the railway and post office people for allowing advertisements of all sorts of pills and things on their posts, or the revolving signs at the post offices, or the hideous clowns that sell supposed art union tickets at the foot of Queen Street. “ We are not given a good lead by anyone. The Government and the local bodies might give some little lead and display some decent sentiment encouraging others to follow. We hope the formation of this society will tend largely to discourage the abominations that are allowed to disfigure our city and its beauty spots.”.