THE PLACARD MANIA.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 69, 21 March 1919, Page 8

THE PLACARD MANIA.

HOW TO COUNTERACT IT. In connection with the Town-rlinning Conference and Exhibition to be held in Wellington in May next, it is proposed to establish a "Oailery of Civic Honour." With regard to this proposal, Mr. S-*. llurßt Seager. lion, organising director of the conference, says:—ln all the old cities of the world the growth of the placard mania has been so gradual and insidious that it had hceome a strikim. disfigurement to the towns before it was realised what harm was being done and before any steps whatever were taken to cheek "thi* parasitic growth. Ail these cities arc now vying with each other in the endeavour to get rid of the evil. This evil has grown in the same way—but more rapidly in the Dominion towns—and it has been done thoughtlessly by following what are considered to be good business method- of the older cities. It can be seen, on reflection, that all this huge, ugly placarding is absolute waste of money, and that the whole of it could be swept away with the greatest possible advantage. It reIpels a far grerter number of people than jit attracts, and it creates a decided injcreaße in the cost of living. The rejmoval of thtse placards would make onr •cities less irritating, and in sonic cases ja civic grace would be created. This 'advertising is done by many firms and individuals who, we are sure, would on consideration wish to improve the coiidi:tions which exist. We are therefore | forming a gallery of civic honour, and asking thop? who now placard their jiities with ugly signs to forward to this 'gallery n photographic; enlargement of the disfigurement as it exists and another | one showing the improvement which has <been elleeted by painting the advertisejlilent out. It is hoped a large number of citizens in all parts of the Dominion will enrol themselves as members of this |gallery of civic- honour. It is realised 1 that in this competitive age advertisements are necessary, but we want to im--1 prove our cities by getting rid of an-' jnoUheenients which r.re made in a blatant ■ and vulgar manner.

The Gallery of Civic Honour has already br.iuglif, forth a response from a firm in a Southern town, stated Mr Sealer to a "Times"' representative last week. The firm has agreed to paint out ft sign winch was considered to be a disfigurement to their town, and it is trusted that this is an example which will be very widely followed throughout the Dominion.