HOARDINGS BILL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26842, 5 August 1948, Page 5

HOARDINGS BILL

PRIVATE INTERESTS AFFECTED OBJECTION TO PROVISIONS PA WELLINGTON, Aug. 4. Mr R. M. Algie (Oppn., Remuera), resuming the debate on the Hoardings Bill in the House of Representatives to-night, said the measure, if passed in , its present form, would remove all hoardings from private land in country areas while leaving untoucned all hoardings on any land in urban mreas and all hoardings on Crown land m country areas. It would also affect the living of all persons interested in hoarding design, and the advertising business generally. , , The Socialists could be nonchalant in destroying things, and apparently the livelihood of the persons affected would, if Mr G. H. O. Wilson (Govt.,, Palmerston North), who sponsored tne Bill, had his way, go down before what he conceived to be the march of progress. Mr Algie said that not ail hoardings were offensive to the eye or dangerous to traffic. Some were crude but others showed a high standard of skill, and before abolishing all rural hoardings, the co-operation oi the designers should be sought to raise the standard of hoardings generally. Mr Wilson, “ with that Socialistic ease which would liquidate an empire,'’ would sweep all hoardings from private land in the countryside without, taking note of the fact that many hoardings were attractive and helped to mould better public opinion. The amendment, which was moved by Mr W A. Sheat (Oppn., Patea), would enable the Bill to be redrafted as Mr Wilson himself wished. ■' Mr J. B. Kent (Govt., Westland) said posters were works of art to-day ana were popular educators. He realised as much as anyone else the. value oi outdoor advertising. The Bill should be adopted because it would do no harm to anybody and would put all outdoor advertising on the same footing The measure would take the responsibility from county councils and there would be uniformity throughout New Zealand. Mr W. A. Bodkin (Oppn., Central Otago) said the Bill would give the Government a free hand and would exclude private enterprise from advertising on hoardings. The Bill was another little bit ol socialism by degrees, which would create a State of monopoly. Mr W. Nash (Govt., Hutt) said it was obvious that if the Bill, to do all that the member for PalmerstonNorth desired, could not apply to private land only. A division was taken on Mr Sheats amendment, which was defeated by 38 votes to 36, the vote being on party lines.

The debate on the second reading continued after the amendment had been taken. The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, said if the House gave the Bill a second reading indicating it supported the principle of the elimination of rural hoardings, the Government could look further into the question of binding the Crown. A division was called for and the Bill was refused a second reading by 48 votes to 24.