POLES AND WIRES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 936, 5 December 1933, Page 5

POLES AND WIRES.

Detrimental to the City’s Beauty. "BLOTS ON LANDSCAPE." Concerned at the number of poles and overhead wires in the streets of the city, the Christchurch Beautifying Society, after a preliminary discussion last night, during which views were expressed that these had a detrimental effect on the city’s beauty, decided to devote a full evening to a further consideration of the subject. “ Great big gaunt, ugly things, a forest of them, not even put in straight.” This was the verbal picture painted by Mr I. Sladen. with reference to the multitude of poles and wires cluttering up ” the streets of the city. He instanced the case of Napier, where, he said, the reconstructed city provided a lesson for the rest of the Dominion. “ One of the blots on the city’s landscape,” continued Mr Sladen. it would probably be an expensive undertaking to put the wires underground, but if a beginning were made in a small way, something comprehensive might eventuate. The secretary, Mr H. Tillman, said that the trolley bus poles were particularly obnoxious. The chairman, Mr R. B. Owen, said the matter had been a sore point for twelve years. He had never, in any part of the world, seen poles quite so hideous as those used in various parts of New Zealand. Visitors frequently commented on it. As things stood, many of the poles were unnecessary. Is there anv controlling authority?” asked Mr I. Sladen. “ No,” said the chairman. “ I think local bodies can stick them in anywhere they like.” On his suggestion that a full evening be devoted to a discussion on the subject, the matter was carried no further in the meantime.