HIGHWAYS DISFIGURED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19303, 16 April 1926, Page 13

HIGHWAYS DISFIGURED

HOARDINGS AND PLACARDS. RAILWAYS' BAD EXAMPLE. RURAL CHARM DESTROYED. PRACTICE INCREASES APACE. [BY TELEGRAPH. — OWN COIUUi SrONPENT.] CHBISTCIIURCn. Thursday. Tho unclesirability of rural advertising by means of hoardings and placards was urged at last night's meeting of tho Progress League. Messrs. A. Dudley Dobson and Edgar F. Stead and Dr. Chas. Chilton, of the Christchnreh Beautifying Association, waied on he league, Mr. Dobson said that the association wished to do all that was possible to stop unsightly advertising in country districts. and it sought tho league's assistance in the matter.

Mr. Stead said ho was sure the league would agree with him that any countryside was better without hoardings. Until a few years ago there ,had been very little of this stamp of advertising, and then a few shrewd business men—he could perhaps fiud another name for them —began nailing tin advertisements on trees and other suitable points of vantage along the roads. Then a few years ago bigger and more blatant advertisements had been erected. One man had used aluminium lettering on a sky-blue background. The Argument of Revenue. The Railway Department had now itarted to erect similar hoardings, and since then the practice had increased apace. There was no doubt that the Kailway Department was the chief mover in tho matter, and as fast as tho depaitmeut erected advertising hoardings private concerns had increased their placarding also, and would continue to do so. The department's reply to tho question of why they carried out this advertising would no doubt bo that it was for revenue, but if revenue was required they should start tome concern that was less offensive. Mr. Stead said lie had no objection to the railways paying, but he did object to their being made to pay through this plastering of the countryside. The Tourist Department did not pay either and why should not the Tourist Department plaster all tho scenic resorts? Who could conceive a more brilliant idea than a glaring advertisement for worm tablets on the roof of the Waitoino Caves? (Laughter). If' the Railway Department could not pay on its own lines then, it should not pay *t aIL "Fame lor Hungry Artists." Mr. Goss asked whether certain advertisements photographed by Mr. Stead were on the main roads. Mr. Stead: So far as the diabolical history of tho placards is concerned I am assured that they are now all over tho country. They are made in two sections ' and I understand that some dry tussock Bet alight and placed underneath them has most beneficial results. (Laughter.) Mr. G. H. Judd said that there was another style of poster erected by religious cranks which should bo wiped out at the same time. He did not want to bo told on every rock and cliif face that his sins had found him out. Mr. Stead stressed the point that tho Railway Department as a public body must first be dealt with before private firms would agree to do anything in regard to removing their advertisements. One argument in favour of the posters •was that their designing was a stepping stone to fame for hungry artists. All he I could say was that if any of these artists lived long enough to get any sense of the 1 artistic they would live a wretched life ' through the thought of having ever perpetrated such atrocities and perhaps would commit suicide. (Laughter.) It was decided to write to the chambers of commerce, progress leagues and other local bodies which would be. interested, and to communicate with the members of Parliament for support in protesting against rural advertising.