ROADSIDE SIGNS

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11960, 15 October 1924, Page 3

ROADSIDE SIGNS

NOT WANTED IN GREAT BRITAIN.

Working quietly but persistently for years past, tbe £>cap& Society (society for control of abuses in public advertising) haß iecently achieved a great success (says the London correspondent of the “Christian Science Monitor"). The two largest oil distributing companies in Great Britain—the Shell-Mex and the Anglo-American Oil, Company—have together agreed to abolish their. Toadside hoardings and signs. In bringing about this result the Scapa Society has had the whole-hearted co-operation of the Royal Automobile Club. Both the abovementioned companies have issued statements that they intend forthwith to dismantle and remove all their road signs of an exclusively advertising character throughout the countryside. In the case of the Shell-Mex Company alone this means the removal of over 6000 ho&Tdings and signs. The Royal Automobile Club is inviting other petrol companies to follow the good example set by these two companies, and the British Petroleum Company has already agreed to stop its roadside advertising in the Isle of Wight, Cornwall, Kent, and the Lake District. A bill was introduced into the last Parliament, and was on the verge of becoming law, known as the Advertisements Regulation Bill. This bill will shortly be reintroduced in the House of Lords. Recently, too, the Ministry of Transport circularised all local authorities with regard to the disfigurement of the roads by advertisers, <and drawing attention to their powers under the Advertisement Regulation Act of 1907. There i. little doubt that the wise decision of the great oil companies will lead the way to the removal of the unsightly advertisement hoardings which at present disfigure the country adjoining tne roads and railways.