PARAPET ROCK HOARDING

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28155, 19 December 1956, Page 14

PARAPET ROCK HOARDING

PROTEST BY INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS

“REFLECTION ON HUMAN NATURE”

Support for the protest by Sir Edmund Hillary and views expressed in leading articles of “The Press" against the erection of an advertising hoarding at Parapet Rock, on the ChristchurchWest Coast main highway, has been given by the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Institute of Architects.

“It is a poor reflection on modern civilisation that human nature is often so callous that it becomes necessary for the Government to enact legislation to safeguard the public interest and to protect the national heritage,” said a statement on behalf of the branch made by the chairman (Mr C. B. Wells) yesterday. “Sir Edmund Hillary has said that in Italy one can hardly see the view for the signs; and I understand that in England the Town and Country Planning Act of 1947 vests the control of wayside hoardings in the local authorities, and that Government approval is necessary for hoardings to be erected on scenic reserves.

“We, in New Zealand, have a glorious country, abounding in almost every type of scenery, and it behoves us to make every effort to ensure that this natural beauty is not marred by incongruous and absolutely unnecessary hoardings such as that recently erected on Parapet Rock. “Amazed and Disgusted”

“On recent trips through to the West Coast, I have noticed the vertical framework being fixed to this rock and wondered what was the meaning of it. I was amazed and disgusted to read that an advertisement for a motor-car agency was erected on this framework. I feel sure that many travellers who see that sign will naturally revolt mentally against the firm displaying it, thus reducing the firm’s sales and prestige rather than enhancing it. “Others who spoil our heritage of beauty, are travellers who litter the sides of the highways with beer bottles, and in many instances use the more secluded localities to dump heaps of rubbish where they remain as an eyesore to all who pass. With the holiday season coming, it is opportune to,remind our citizens that these things are a disgrace to ai\y community, and we should at least have enough national pride to make it unnecessary to have such matters the subject of newspaper correspondence. Other countries can do it; why cannot New Zealand? “The Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Institute of Architects gives its full support to the stand taken by Sir Edmund Hillary, also expressed so well in leading articles of ‘The Press’ and we hope that the firm concerned in this act of despoliation will have the decency to remove it without further pressure.” said the statement.