SCARS OH COUNTRY’S BEAUTY

Evening Star, Issue 21255, 9 November 1932, Page 1

SCARS OH COUNTRY’S BEAUTY

THE REMOVAL OF HOARDINGS PROMPT HONOURING OF COMPANIES' UNDERTAKING [SpBCIAI. TO THE ‘ STAR.’] CHRISTCHURCH. November 9. In. accordance with the undertaking given by them to Lord Bledisloe, the Shell Oil Company of New Zealand and Messrs A. S. Paterson and Co. are removing from the countryside of the dominion advertising hoardings which' might be regarded as disfiguring beauty spots. Certain exceptions are being made in regard to the hoardings. It is not intended to remove or paint over those which are on the premises of resellers, those in urban or suburban areas, or those which are close to those areas and carry information to motorists as to mileage, direction, etc._ A considerable amount of loss is involved in the dismantling of the hoardings, as many of them have been erected quite recently. Over forty hoardings have, so far, been taken down or painted over by the Shell Company alone since the work commenced, and it is considered, as the work is being carried out in other parts of the dominion as well, that several hundreds of such erections will be affected before operations are concluded. Legislation was passed some time,ago giving to county councils the power to make by laws restricting the use of hoardings in their districts, and the Amuri County Council recently made such a by-law. ■ Commenting ; on the action of the companies concerned, Mr J. S. Hawkes, secretary of the Canterbury Automobile Association, said last night that it was very satisfactory. “ Such a move has been advocated by motorists’ organisations for years,” he went on, “ and assurances have been received from companies from time to time that they would carry out our desires; but, although something was done in this direction once or twice, it was not long before they reverted to hoardings.” Mr Hawkes added that there was considerable feeling among the motoring community concerning the uso_ of hoardings in beauty spots to advertise certain other products. He hoped the action of the companies wOuld_ serve as an example to others who similarly advertised motor vehicles, batteries, etc.