BEAUTY SPOTS SPOILED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18722, 30 May 1924, Page 6

BEAUTY SPOTS SPOILED

ROADSIDE ADVERTISEMENTS. MANY " INARTISTIC DAUBS." : "... w" ; « • • .... v • . •• } PROTEST FROM MOTORISTS.; -- *• : - i " .. - ;■ -jr.'. • _ 1 - fßr TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] X . CHEISTCHTJRCH, Thursday. The question of ' the disfigurement of the landscape with; advertising signs was discussed at to-day's annua!, meeting of the South' Island Motor Union. The matter , was brought up by Mr. R. P. Furness, who moved, on behalf of the Marlborough - Automobile . Association, "That this* meeting of the South Island (New Zealand) *Motor Union is in favour of legislation being introduced - to deal with the r question of advertising trade signs on* roadsides, to the disfigurement of beauty spots."

Speaking to the motion, Mr. Furness stated, that there was nothing more tantalising to a motorist when his tyre had blown out miles from anywhere than to see the roadside sign informing him that a certain class of tyre was the best in the long run, or when he had run short of benzine to be informed by a roadside sign that' so and so's benzine would take him anywhere. Mr. W. B". Carey seconded the motion. • Mr. W. Wright said the more the advertisement attracted the eye the greater the danger of ■' shifting the motorist s attention from the ; road, and consequently the greater the danger of accident. Me. F. W. Johnston stated that he objected to the "inartistic daubs" in the shape of roadside advertisements, which disfigured • the ' landscape. This was an age when ' the day of any "daub" sufficing for an advertisement had passed, and the only ; advertisements - which were interesting were those . ; displaying the quality of * the goods advertised. The place for such advertisements was in -the - newspaper. .It should be declared illegal for - roadside advertisements to be erected except on private property.. • X The chairman, Mr. J. S. Hawkes, stated that • the county ' councils had been approached on* the. matter,v and the Halswell County Council had decided to prohibit . such advertisements. The motion was carried. ' ' .