“UNFAIR RESTRICTIONS”

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1061, 27 August 1930, Page 1

“UNFAIR RESTRICTIONS”

CITY COUNCIL SIGN REGULATIONS TRADE PROTEST AT COLOUR SCHEME AMENDMENTS to the City by-laws in respect of signs, posters and electric signs, and which principally restrict the use of colours and materials used, have given rise to considerable protest on the part of signwriters, advertising men and business houses in the City. It is stated that the amendments which are shortly to come before the City Council for adoption will considerably restrict the operations of the signwriting and allied trades, will increase the cost of material and have the tendency to put men out of employment. In voicing their protests to a SUN representative this morning the principals of many businesses affected deplored that any unnecessary restrictions should be imposed during the present difficult trade period.

Under the proposed by-law the colours in which any sign or signboard may be written or painted upon any building, verandah, portico, wall or fence shall be restricted to the following:—Background or base: Black, white, deep blue, brown, deep green. Lettering: Black, white, deep blue, brown, deep green, gold and silver. “The keynote of success in business today is individual enterprise in advertising,” stated a prominent signwriter. “The restrictions proposed by the council will have a far-reach-ing effect on many big business houses,” he said, “so serious that the council cannot be aware of it, otherwise councillors would not for a moment tolerate them.” He pointed out that, out of hun-

dreds of good colours available, the council proposed to allow a range of only five colours for a background. With the exception of gold and silver the lettering colours were the same as those for the background, which meant that the signs would be restricted practically to opposites. BIG FIRMS PENALISED

He also stated that many big houses that operated all over the world, had their own display signs in colours which their advertising experience had proved to them to be the most satisfactory for their purpose. These colours generally had an association with the colour of the goods or packages in which their goods were made up or labelled, the idea being that the sign immediately caught the eye and, also, became associated through the colour with the goods that it represented. For these big firms it would mean thc.t Auckland would be the one city in the world where their world-wide advertising scheme would fail to connect, and be useless. Characterising the restrictions as unnecessary interference with business, another signwriter said that it would not be going too far to suggest that the Council might also extend its activities to restricting the colours in which a man might paint his house. He pointed out that in the signboard restrictions cream was one of the forbidden colours. This was a colour which many people used for their houses. Restrictions were increasing so rapidly, he said, that soon no one would have pex-sonal rights over his own property. CREATE UNEMPLOYMENT Emphasising the difficulties that the council proposed to place in the way ot his trade, a prominent signwriter stated that he had a number ot men continually employed in writing signs for certain firms whose colour schemes, which they used all over the world, came under the banned list. He considered that if the by-law was passed he would be compelled immediately to put a number of his men off. Under the heading of electrical fittings, it was also required that all coloured lamps used should be of natural glass colouring, and no lamps which, have been dipped or otherwise treated with any colouring solution shall be used. He stated that all the lamps used at present were dipped, and this itself provided the signwriters with a certain amount of work. Under the new regulations, those dealing in electric signs would have to import expensive coloured lamps, which would have the result not only of increasing costs, but also of eliminating work which could be done localls-. He also stated that many firms which erected big buildings utilised their w-alls for trade signs. If the proposed by-law was carried it would not be possible to use signs that exceeded 20 feet in length or 10 feet in width, or letters that have a greater length and width than three feet, if painted at a height of more than 30 feet above the level of the pavement. If under that height, the letters were not to exceed two feet in length or width. This, he considered, was unnecessary interference with the occupier of a build- | ing, and would not be welcomed by ' many who were prepared to spend money in further developing their business.

It is understood that a number of protests from trades and businesses affected are being forwarded to the council.

Interviewed this morning in regard to electric signs, the city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, said this morning that provision had been made whereby the committee concerned need not examine each and every application for permission to erect signs. Many of the application were unimportant and could well be dealt with by the city engineer’s office without wasting the committee’s time. UNIFORM COLOUR Asked who had framed the by-law relating to the painting of signs on buildings. Mr. Tyler said that complaints had been made frequently to and gaudy appearance of signs. People had requested that the council should take action, bur it had no power. When, however, the committee asked him .to report upon the City Council about the glaring electric signs he also drew up a scheme for regulation of colourings which might be used oy buildings. (Continued on Page 10)