SEATS CARRYING ADVERTISING

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 270, 11 August 1938, Page 15

SEATS CARRYING ADVERTISING

City Council’s Decision

COMPANY AGREES TO ALTERATIONS

1 , Following a conference with the eoin- : pany to which the contract was let, it I had been arranged for the objection- | able features of the advertising on ' seats which were to be placed in the j city and suburbs to be removed, said ! the mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, at last I night's meeting of the Wellington City I Council. The following report was submitted bv the special committee set up to deal with the matter: "The committee has to report that it met representatives of the Wellington Seat Advertising Company, Limited, and arranged for the company to endeavour so to distribute the advertising panel? un seats that colour clashes will be reduced, and there will be more uniformity of type of advertisement on each seat. The company will also experiment with reduced sizes of panels and hopes to select advertising matter so that there will be less cause for comment.” The mayor said that the company had Indicated that it was desirous of helping, the council, the members of which were of the opinion that gradually the type of advertisement would improve and the objectionable features would be removed.. The council would then have the seats, which would yield substantial revenue and enable other parts of the city to be beautified, Cr. Maealister said the scheme had been approved by the previous council. The citizens should lie entitled lo know just what was meant by the contract. He understood that 300 seats had been contracted for for seven years at a rental of £5 a year for each seat. Question of Finance. Cr. A. Black said the whole question had been one of finance. If the council had had the money it would have procured seats without the need for the contract. Not being in a position to do so, it had accepted the company’s offer. The seats were subject to the control of the council, which lie considered had done a good job under the circumstances. Cr. Black said that at the same time he did not approve of this type of advertising. It was to lie seen on tramcars. There was no knowing where it would end. The next thing they might see was a large photograph of Mussolini. , . .

Cr. A. Duncan: What about one of Uncle Scrim?

' Cr. Black: I think it Would be fur better than one of Cr. Duncan. Cr. Duncan: What as? Cr. Black: As a gentleman. Cr. Duncan: He hasn't shown he is that.

Or. Black: Oh, yes, he has, but you don't understand. You mffj some day. Or. T. Brindle expressed agreement with Cr. Maealister. There was. nothing dignified or beautiful about the seats. He had opposed the scheme iu the initial stages. Defending the previous council for its action in the matter, Cr. M. Luekie said the conditions of the coutract gave the council complete control ffs to the type of advertising, the design and location. It. was not such a bad bargain, and with the improvements now arranged little more should be beard of the matter. Cr. R. MeKeen said he had never been enamoured of the whole scheme. He considered the council should remove the seat outside the Government Building. It was objectionable and people were not using it. Before these seats were Installed anywhere the location should be referred to the by-laws committee.

The report of the special committee was adopted.