DUNEDIN AMENITIES SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20691, 13 April 1929, Page 7

DUNEDIN AMENITIES SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Dunedin Amenities and Town Planning Society was held in the Town Hall yesterday afternoon. Mr Crosby Morris occupied the chair. The chairman referred to the death of Mr Chamberlain, and moved —“ That the members of this society desire to record their regret at the death of Mr C. W. S. Chamberlain. Mr Chamberlain has been on our executive for over 21 years, during eight of which he acted as secretary. He was one of the most valued members, with a large knowledge of native trees and shrubs. He was always ready to assist in any branch of work, and his sound judgment was of great assistance to the society.” The motion was carried, members tanding. In moving the adoption of the annual eport and balance sheet, the chairman iaid the report covered the year’s work rery fully. He had been asked whether ;he society confined its work to planting :rees and shrubs, and he had replied in ;he negative, adding that the society was mly too glad to assist in any way for ;he improvement of the city. The society rad not confined its efforts to tree planing. It might not have done much in ihe direction of town planning, but it had dohe something to improve the appearance of the city. He was sorry to say that some of the streets were getting worse instead of better. Thhre was Stuart street, for instance. He had noticed papers lying about. He did not know whether the society could do anything in the matter. The City Corporation had promised to place more receptacles for holding papers left about the streets, but he did not think much had been done. In one instance the Works Department men had been having lunch alongside their work, and next morning the place did not look too tidy. If the corporation were asked to get the men to clean up after them it might have some effect. Another matter that had taken the society outside its ordinary work was an endeavour to get unsightly hoardings removed from Government buildings. Some years ago the society had requested the Government to refrain from putting advertisements on buildings, near railway stations, and it was told that the department would see that no advertisements were allowed that were not of an artistic nature. No one could suggest that many of the advertisements appearing on railway buildings were artistic. He had noticed that day, at the foot of Water street, adjoining the railway line, a structure going up. He did not know what it could be but he feared that it was a hoarding for advertisements. If so, it was objectionable. He would like to draw attention to a clause in the report with regard to the Queen’s Gardens. People did not show the consideration they should by keeping on the paths. The removal of the fence bad been a good work, but opposite the foot of Dowling street people had begun to walk on two tracks leading to the Rattray street crossing. The corporation might put a seat across the tracks. With regard to funds, they were not in a happy condition with regard to income.

The expenditure during the year had, however, not been heavy, and there was a small improvement. He hoped the citizens would remember the society and its good work. Mr G. M. Thomson, M.L.C., seconded the motion. He had noticed at the High Street School that there was a complete absence of loose paper about, and he suggested that members could always do a little to improve matters by mentioning it to the headmasters of schools. As to the footpaths crossing the Queen’s Gardens he suggested putting up wire hoops to stop the mischief. He appreciated very much the improvement made by Mr Tannock in opening up spaces. The smallness of the membership of the society was to be accounted for by the fact that the public was satisfied with the work that. was done so well by Mr Tannock, Mr J. L. Salmond suggested that an improvement might be brought about by erecting signs asking citizens to keep on the paths in the Queen’s Gardens. In regard to papers about the streets he j thought tram tickets were responsible for a great deal of that trouble, A notice | in the trams asking people to deposit tickets in some compartment in the cars might be an advantage. The following office-bearers were elected:—President, Mr Crosby Morris; vice-president, Mr C, P. M. Butterworth; ; committee—Sir George Fenwick, Mr G. M. Thomson, M.L.C., and Mr James Begg; hon. treasurer, Mr A. W. M. Moodie; hon. secretary, Mr John Ash, Mr J. L. Salmond referred at considerable length to the question of town planning, concerning which not much had been done by the society. He advocated that the City Corporation should be approached and requested to write to the Town Planning Board with a request that the Director of Town Planning might pay a visit to Dunedin with the object of delivering an address. Some 30 towns in the North Island had asked for such a visit, and nothing had been done so far in the South Island, It was resolved that the City Corporation be requested to invite the attendance of the director in Dunedin so that he might deliver an address. Dr Hercus expressed the opinion that the advice of the Director of Town Planning would be invaluable. The society might arrange a social function. Mr J. C. Begg heartily supported the motion, pointing out the importance of the work. Mr D. Tannock mentioned that it had been decided to construct a footpath along the Water of Leith, and another from Black Jack’s Point to Anderson’s Bay, but the decision had never been carried into effect. He did not think anything had been, done in the direction indicated.