HOARDINGS AT WOOLSTON.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20918, 27 July 1933, Page 8

HOARDINGS AT WOOLSTON.

RESIDENTS' PROTEST. SUPREME COURT INJUNCTION SUGGESTED. More than 70 residents of Woolston decided unanimously last night that they did not desire hoardings to be erected in their district, and that they would ask the Christchurch City Council to cancel a permit already granted for the erection of. a hoarding at the corner of Oak street and Ferry road. A public meeting of protest was held in the Woolston school. Recently residents signed a petition opposing the Oak street hoarding, and it was stated that they were annoyed because the number of names on the petition was represented to the council to be only -*4, whereas actually it was more than 100. The speakers were Crs. J. K. Archer, J. W. Beanland, and M. E. Lyons, all of whom reaffirmed their detestation of any advertising medium likely to spoil the countryside, and Cr. Archer explained that a mistake had been made in the numbers of signatories to the petition by a City Council clerk. Mr Charles Ilill presided. A Strong Feeling. The chairman said that the City Council should carry out the desires of the residents. The feeling against the erection of hoardings in 'Woolston was very strong. The councillors were placed in power by the residents and should do what the electors wished. The Deputy-Mayor (Cr. Archer) said that it had been reported that two petitions had been sent in to the council. An equal number of about 44 names, it was stated, had been subscribed for and against hoardings, but since then it had been pointed out that the petition against the hoardings had contained 110 names. There had been a regrettable mistake on the part of a woman member of the City Council staff. Those in favour of hoardings had nothing to do with it. His belief was that hoardings were "hideosities." The council and the residents should have the moral courage to do away with them. It had been said that men who could not nay their rates should be allow'J to put up hoardings, but if that came to pass the whole city would be a mass of hoardings. A voice: Damn the ratepayers^ Cr. Archer: It is curious how history sticks to A "Breach of Faitl)." The speaker continued that if the council allowed hoardings to be erected in Woolston it would be a definite breach of faith. There had been a "gentlemen's agreement.'' If a substantial number of residents in a certain area decided against hoardings, they should not be erected. That qualification certainly applied to Woolston. There was an understanding in the council that hoardings might be erected in business but not residential areas. Oak street was a residential area in which business was done, but if a measurement was taken it would be found that, in population, there was a larger residential area at Oak street than at St. Andrew's square. If hoardings were put up in St. Andrew's square there would be a tremendous uproar. A voice: A riot.

The Governor-General had protested against hoardings alongside the main highways, and had even suggested that the firms erecting them should be boycotted, continued Mr Archer.

"I have no personal feeling against owners of sections who wish to let their frontages for hoardings, taut this is a case in which an individual's financial interests should be subordinated to the feelings of the people," continued Cr. Archer. "If the council persists in defying public opinion and betraying its trust you should take a deputation to the Mayor and, failing that, apply to the Supreme Court for an injunction. - ' (Applause.)

The Rights of the Suburbs,

Cr. Beanland said that every part of the city had its rights. If the council decided to allow hoardings in St. Albans, Papanui, Fendalton, or Riccarton, there would be a great protest. Woolston had equal rights. In no case should hoardings be erected where they were not wanted. The last meeting of the council had received several applications. It had been proposed to hide a piece of garden and a tree in Papanui road with a hoarding '7O feet lonjg. That was most undesirable. As to the Oak street proposal, the council had decided to grant the application. Any protest should be made now. If a demonstration was made, the Mayor would have grounds for saying that the erection must not go ahead. "It lias been put up to me that hoardings would provide work for builders, but that is not worth bothering about," said the speaker. "Sydenham is becoming full of hoardings." A voice: A picture show: Ratepayers May Decide. "Yes, and it will be the same in Woolston if you are not careful,"' resumed Mr Beanland. Hoardings had made u most unsuitable background to the clock tower in Victoria street. It was once specified that they should be 14 feet high, but now others were placed on top. There was a majority of councillors in favour of hoardings, and the majority must win, but the ratepayers had it. in their own hands. They should make a strong protest. He was most gratified at the interest that had been aroused in the district. .

Gratification that "the traditions of the old Woolston Borough Council still lived" was expressed by Cr. Lyons. The only democratic attitude to adopt was one in conformity with the wishes of the ratepayers, he said. He loathed the thought of the countryside being disfigured with flaring advertisements. If hoardings were bad lor the countryside they were equally bad for the city. Only healthy public opinion, kept alive, could preserve a decent aspect in the countryside. Some credence might be given to the provision of work, but the indiscriminate daubing of paper on walls must be subordinated to the wishes of the majority. ■An examination would show that many of the posters were printed in America. If an elected man flew in the face of public opinion he should be subject to the rteht of recall, as maintained by the old Labour party. In reply to a question Cr. Archer said that the council had power to order any unsightly sections to be cleaned up. "Not New Zealand-Made." Mr McGregor Wright thanked the .con noil lor $ for attending the meet- . « ... ->1» ,-r»

ing. He reiterated the statement that most of the matter on the hoardings was printed outside the Dominidn. He moved that the meeting respectfully ask the City Council to support a resolution to the effect that no permits for the erection of hoardings in Woolston should be granted. The speaker referred to protests made against hoardings in the district in previous years. He had been asked, he said, if there was any possibility of Woolston seceding from the city and reverting to the old Woolston Borough Council, supposing the city refused to defer to the residents' wishes. He could only think that some of the new councillors did not know the feeling in the district. "We in Woolston should be respected, for the working man makes the money for the other fellow," said Mr Wright. "We should not have to go to the council with petitions." The resolution was seconded by Mr J. J. Graham, who added that the meeting should go further tnd ask the council to cancel a permit already granted. Mr McGregor Wright agreed to his seconder's suggestion, and the motion was carried unanimously. Votes of thanks were passed to the councillors for their addresses. A Principle Involved. Cr. Archer added that the residents were standing up for a great principle. It was possible that the council would not grant the request. For that reasoji alone he had mentioned a Supreme Court injunction. A great many of the posters passed by the City Council merely "sailed through." The person who desired the hoarding erected at Oak street was not a resident of Wo6lston. even of Christchurch. It was most improper for a person to work up a petition desiring something for himself. The Christchurch City Council would not be fit to rule Woolston if it went directly against the wishes of the ratepayers of the district.