SKY SIGNS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 67, 20 March 1931, Page 11

SKY SIGNS

POSSIBLE DANGER

LESSONS FROM NAPIER

Keren! ly (lie <.'it.v Coum-il decided Unit si g ns erected on buildings should not. lie more lli:m J^fl; in lieiglit, but last; evening tin; Myl.-nvs (JuiMiiUeo recommended tli.-ifc peiinission should be

given i'of Hie erection of a 1-1 ft sign on. a i'our-stoiied building in C'oui-teuay place. The .\(:ivor expressed strong disapproval of the* proposal, and said that such signs made for real danger n\ the event of earthquake. The chairman of the Jiyluws Committee, Councillor M. 1\ Luckie, said that the sign was to be an open one, which would' offer very little resistance to the wind, and would be placed m such a position that it could not full across the street. The sign had, in fact, been commenced. The Mayor said that he thought that the council should consider very carefully whether it was wise to authorise such structures in view of what had happened in Napier. .... "The fact that Wellington is right in the centre of the earthquake area should make us exceedingly careful, said Mr. Troup. "We are going to have regulations submitted by the Government, evidently because the Government considers that the local bodies have not been sufficiently careful in protecting the interests of citizens. I think wo should take notice and put our house in order, and I think that , simis on top of buildings should be not only carefully scrutinised but should be almost prohibited." . . Those who had been in Jvapier. said Mr Troup, would realise too well that human life should not for a moment be endangered for the sake of a paltry advertisement. The City Engineer had, moreover, reported against the proposal, and, that being so, the council should move very carefully indeed. Mr. Troup said that ho had no sympathy vrith tho firm which had commenced work on tho sign without a per"l think," he concluded, "that we should reconsider tho whole question of these signs. My duty is to see that the city is protected in these matters, and I move that this application should be declined." Mr. Troup agreed, in reply to Councillor Luckie, that the clause should go back to the committee for further consideration.