The Tramway Shelter.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18344, 30 March 1925, Page 6

The Tramway Shelter.

The position regarding the proposal of a Wellington firm to exhibit advertising screens on the tramway shelter at night is the subject of a statement by tho Tramway Board to-day. It is represented that the By-laws Committee of the City Council asked the Board whether there was any objection to tho proposal, and that the Board notified the Council's Committoo that it objected on testhctic grounds and also on the ground that the display of tho advertisements would strengthen the oppdsition to tho retention of the shelter. Tho spectacle of the Tramway Board displaying a concern for tho resthetic side of anything whatever will strike most people as rather a ridiculous one: the Board may talk about ins the tics when it ceases to defend the shelter itself, which is simply a blot upon the Square. Tho second ground of its objection is much easier to follow, but since tho advertising firm's proposal has been explained one must admit that it is altogether different from a proposal to affront the sunlight with another coarse "bulletin board." But there seems to be some reason to doubt the bona fides of the Board's action in this matter. It is said that the Board was first approached by the firm concerned, and was quite willing to consider tho proposal, but required too largo a rental, with tho result that application was then transferred to the City Council, the Board's prosent opposition being retaliatory only. If this is not correct, the Board will doubtless cvplain the situation more clearly. In the meantime, it is to be noted that the City Council's control over the shelter is to a degreo subordinate to the Board's. The Council ought not to be required to consult the Board concerning the shelter at all. It ought to havo power, and it is a pity it has not both tho power and the will, to abolish the shelter altogether.