AMENITIES SOCIETY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21909, 22 March 1933, Page 14

AMENITIES SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of the Dunedin Amenities and Town Planning Society was held yesterday afternoon in the Council Chambers at the Town Hall, the president (Mr Crosby Morris) occupying tlie chair. In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, the chairman referred to the loss suffered by the society in the deaths during the year of Dr Riley and Mr James Rennie. At the last annual meeting Dr Riley had brought up the question of a path from the top of Signal Hill to Logan Point, but this work had not been undertaken though the society was bearing the matter in mind. A road had been partly constructed making the approach to Signal Hill better, but mere was still room for improvement. The suggestion that had been made to the City Council was that thisjroad should be continued over the summit to meet the Main North road. The formation of a road to the top of Flagstaff had also been discussed last year, and it was considered that this would lie a great benefit to the city. It was a matter which must not be overlooked in the next year. Last year’s work might be considered • disappointing in that nothing of a very large character had been completed. The work done, now ever, had been worth while, and he trusted that even more useful work would be done next year. Arising from an examination of the work that had been undertaken by the society was the necessity of renewing plantation trees which had died. This was work which should be done without delay in order that the new trees would not be too much smaller than the others. •It had been suggested that the new committee should inspect the work of the past year with the object of submitting to the City Council a report on what was necessary to complete the works which had been commenced.-. The town planning department of the society’s work had been somewhat neglected, and he hoped that this would receive more detailed attention in the future. The society’s finances were in a healthy state, the expenditure last year being kept below the income. The chairman went on to say that Mr G. M. Thomson had spoken on many occasions of the Utter which was too frequently iu evidence on the streets of the city. He had been unable to see any improvement in this respect in tjie past few years. There was no reason why the main streets at least could not be kept clean of discarded papers, tram tickets, cigarette packets, and other rubbish. He thought that unless there was an improvement soon the matter should be brought urgently before the City Council with the suggestion -that offenders should be prosecuted. For the most part, he thought that carelessness and thoughtlessness were to blame and that those who threw down discarded rubbish in the streets were unaware that they were committing a breach of a by-law. The motion was seconded by Mr J. L. Salmond, who said that, in the last year .another nuisance had crept in in addition to that. caused by the dropping of tram tickets and cigarette packets. That was the discarding in shop doorways and on the streets of the receipt cards which were presented with goods purchased in certain establishments. He went on to speak of the society’s work iu connection with town planning, saying that he thought the people should he educated on the principles of this matter, if they wanted to see the growth of the city continue on proper lines. If this were done, the Town Planning Act, which they had fought so hard to have framed, might be made use of. Mr George Crow also referred to the litter on the streets, and expressed the opinion that the nuisance would not abate until something definite was done. Mr A. C. Cameron said that he would like, to see more interest taken in town planning. He thought that the society might devote sofne evenings to the study of the matter in its relation to Dunedin so that it would be in a better position to press for more activity, in this direction. He thought that much of the litter on the streets was caused by small boys taking envelopes from the rubbish receptacles, and, after removing the stamps, discarding the envelopes on the street. The wholesale distribution of advertising and other pamphlets "was also a source of much ot the rubbish. \ The motion was carried. The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year Vice-patron, Mr W. Downie Stewart; president, Mr Crosby Morris; vice-president, Mr J. L. Salmond; treasurer, Mr H. P. Aitken; secretary, Mr J. Ash; committee—Messrs J. Begg, J. Wilson, G. M. Thomson, C. 0. MTCellar, J. Loudon, J. M'George, G. Crow, D. Tannock. J. L. Salmond, G. Simpson, jun., R. Fountain, J. C. H. Somerville, H. P. West, A. C. Cameron, C. N. Benzoni, and Dr C. E. Hercus; auditors—Messrs Barr, Burgess, and Stewart. It was decided to send a letter of sympathy to Mr' D. Tannock expressing the best wishes of members for a quick recovery from his illness. >.