FEW DECORATIONS IN QUEEN STREET

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31248, 21 December 1966, Page 11

FEW DECORATIONS IN QUEEN STREET

“The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND, Dec. 20.

Local body by-laws have become so prohibiting that it was almost impossible to put decorations on the exterior of Queen street shops, said the president of the Queen Street Business Association (Mr F. D. Carter). Trolley bus wires, power lines and building restrictions all prevented anything being hung, draped, or attached to buildings, he said.

There are few decorations on Queen street stores, although most shops have streamers and other bright decorations inside. “We thought of putting up a big electrical decoration—maybe at a major intersection—but the Auckland City Council will not permit it,” said Mr Carter.

“They have 150 reasons why we can’t do it. They threw the book at us.” He said that whenever it was suggested that decorations be hung or draped on buildings “we run into

trouble” with either the Auckland Electric Power Board, the City Council or the Auckland Regional Authority’s transport division. “By Australian standards. Queen street is very well lit,” he continued. “You’d probably have to go to New York or Las Vegas to see a street illuminated as well. “There are more lights In Queen street than there are in Regent street, London. “So if we put up an electrically illuminated decoration, it would really have to be outstanding. “One scheme we had in mind was to put a big star over each street light. “At £6O a star, this would have cost £3600."