HOARDINGS A DANGER

Evening Star, Issue 19063, 5 October 1925, Page 12

HOARDINGS A DANGER

ROADSIDE PLACARDS CONDEMNED MOTORISTS TO TAKE ACTION. Roadside placards telling the passing motorist that Oinks’ garage is open day or night, or that Spurt’s benzine is the best ever may look ingenuous enough, but in the opinion of the Otago Motor Club members, as expressed at their annual meeting on Saturday night, they are not as liarmless as they look. , A letter from Dr F. R. Riley, who was unable to attend the_ meeting, started the discussion, which ended with a verdict of guilty against the hoardings on the two counts: (1) That they were a disfiguring blot on many a fair scene; and (2) that they constitute an element of risk by distracting the attention of motorists. Though the implications in the last finding may be a compliment to the magnetic phraseology of the advertisers, it is held that the achievement would not compensate for possible fatalities resulting in a lapse of concentration at the driving wheel. Dr Riley, in has letter, indignantly denounced the growth of the placards along some of the finest scenic routes in the district, and suggested that the matter be discussed at the meeting with a recommendation that the members should take some steps to_ discourage the nuisance. He mentioned that in the United States lines of placards fairly “ shrieked ” at the motorists.

Tho President (Mr A. E, Ansell) congratulated Dr Riley on bringing the matter forward, and after referring to the prevalence of the “pest” in the United States, mentioned that there was one sign that blocked a beautiful view of Dunedin. The firm, when interviewed, said it would bo agreeable to withdraw tho sign if another firm withdrew the placard it had erected. Meanwhile it was a case of “ business being business.” “ 1 have already made up my mind, declared one member. “ not to buy motor spirit from a firm that advertises in this ivay I ” Mr H. Halliday stated that the matter had been discussed at the meeting of the South Island Motor Union, and it was forced homo upon the delegates that no one had any right to bar tho signs unless the Government brought down legislation prohibiting the practice. Meanwhile a farmer with a rock face on his property that otherwise was quite useless w’ould not decline an advertising firm's offer of £2O or so a year. “ The Government is the wmrst offender,” remarked Mr W. Wright. Some of the Government lidvertisemonts wore blatant, lie said, and it was not to be w’ondered at that accidents occurred when the attention of motorists was distracted by these hoardings. A humorist amongst the audience declared that tho man who had declined to buy motor spirit from any firm that advertised on road hoardings _ was not consistent. “There is one sign,” ho said, “ which advertises the Exhibition —and above it is an advertisement for whisky!” (Laughter.) Tho President said the matter -would be considered by the executive. _ It was no doubt an important question. Apart from Otago, the Hutt road was becoming quite disfigured wdth hoardings. : Mr A. A. Finch; “And the important point to notice is the great element of risk which these advertisements create for the motorist!”