COUNTRY HOARDINGS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19308, 8 October 1932, Page 3

COUNTRY HOARDINGS

DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE.

By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON. October 7.

The recent announcement that the oil companies intended at the expiration of existing contracts to discontinue the use of advertising hoardings in the country, gave rise to an urgen, question asked by Mr P. Fraser (Lab., Wellington Central) in the House yesterday afternoon.

Mr Fraser asked the Acting-Miirs-ter for Employment (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) whether he would ascertain from the companies the number of men who would lose their employment through the decision, and the yearly amount of wages permanently lost. Mr Fraser also enquired whether the Minister would discover the estimated total saving to the oil companies as a result of their decision, and whether he would urge the companies to postpone giving effect to their decision until unemployment had been very considerably reduced. Mr Hamilton said he did not know that he could agree with the premises on which the member for Wellington Central based his question. He was aware that representations had been made.

At this stage Mr Speaker called Mr Hamilton to order. The name of the Governor-General could not be mentioned, and he took it that the Minister intended to refer to him. Mr Hamilton explained that he had not intended to do so. He simply proposed to say that representations were made to the oil companies to dismantle hoardings in some of the beauty spots of New Zealand. Mr Fraser: Is it confined to beauty spots? Mr Hamilton: I think so. A Labour member: No. it is confined to the whole Dominion. Mr Hamilton said the matter was one for the oil companies themselves. Quite a lot of people objected to hoard - ings, and their requests to do away with them had been met by the oil companies. He was inclined to think that the dismantling of hoardings would involve more labour than would their maintenance. If the oil companies did not wish to spend money on advertising on hoardings that was their business. He did not know that he would be justified in taking up the matter with the companies.