THE PEOPLE'S CARS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1072, 10 March 1911, Page 9

THE PEOPLE'S CARS.

A FRUITLESS PROTEST. COUNCIL'S ADVERTISING SCHEME. Advertising in the tramcars was further discussed at the City Council last night, but tho endeavour to reverse the decision of a fortnight ago was unsuccessful. That decision was embodied in the two follow--ing resolutions:—

' That considering that nearly =£2000 a year can be made out of letting spaces in tramcars for advertising, the right to place neat and suitable advertisements ou the cars be told or let."

"That tenders be invited for advertising in the cars, and samples of the proposed advertisements to be placed in the cars to -be. supplied." accordance with notice, Councillor E. Fletcher moved the rescission of the above resolutions. He said that on every previous occasion when such a scheme had been before the council it had been turned down, and he thought .that policy should have been maintained. The matter could not have careful consideration. He did not Delieve that the expected i!20(lfl would be realised, if only

"niat and suitable" advertisement; were .allowed. When the committee decided not to allow whisky and patent medicine advertisements on "the tram tickets, the advertising contractors withdrew their business because those were the most profitable kind of advertisements. To illustrate the sort of things they would have in the ears, the speaker read from newspapers a number of patent medicine advertisements, containing such expressions, as ''Eat what you like; no fear of indigestion if you take somebody's pills." "Somebody's pills will bring the dawning of a brighter day," and the like. If 'advertisements like those wero eliminated, there would not be much profit in it. In any case, the advertisements would disfigure the cars. There was no. room for .them, except on the windows. The Auckland cars were very much disfigured .by advertisements, and if the citizens had the power they would remove them. . Christchurch people would be only, top glad to remove the advertisements : from their cars, but they could not do so because a contract had been let. Ho did not see why the Empire City should take example from the other cities of the Dominion. Its tramway system was in tho lead, and should continue so. It was much more edifying to study the book of human nnturo in the faces of fellow-passengers, than to read patent medicine advertisements. He would ask the Mayor, if he was prepared, as a member of Parliament, to advocate advertisements hi the railway carriages. Very many citizens had told, him- they were strongly against -the council's proposal. He also deprecated the adoption of such an innovation just before the election of a new council.

Councillor Thompson seconded the motion.

The Maypr.: I only desire to say that I intend to vote as I voted a fortnight ago. ''-.-.•

Councillor M'Laren supported Councillor Fletcher's.motion. Modern cities were made hideous by advertising, and a great deal of useless,, unproductive .labour was expounded on it. Caro would perhaps be exercised at first as to the class of advertisements'in tho cars, but there would be a strong tendency towards laxity. He had seen advertisements on the Auckland cars which he would be sorry to see in Wellington. The tramways were not in sucn sore - need of ■SfctMOj their finances were in a healthy state, and important works had been done out of thu tramway revenue. Councillor .Hindmursh (the mover of the original motion) said lie did not suppose the council was going to let its resolutions bo smiced out by.a few newspaper articles. If the papers were so solicitous for the uplifting of the people they might discontinue their- daily description, of women's dresses. It was a degrading idea that a woman's finest achievement was wearing silk and satin Ml doing good in the. community, .it was jsi.mpjy_._absurd to., sav . that .tnc council would be unable to prevent all £2S£*° l '■ R aief "' advertisements appearing; =3?ffai!cillor Fletcher, in reply, said that not a single agreement had been advanced in favour of the advertising. The counAiOOO, unless it accepted unsuitable advertisements. He believed the public would rather pay slightly increased fares ban. have the cars disfigured by adver-tisements.-(Voices: No, no.) ihe motion was defeated by 11 votes