Civic Decency.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 954, 26 December 1933, Page 6

Civic Decency.

Dear Sir,—When I returned home the other evening in the all too" infrequent glory of a new suit. I was met by “ She-who-must-be-obeyed ” with, the rather appalling remark: “Now, Billy,. I want to see vou change vour trousers! ’’ I knew what she meant, but, as I ventured to point out, what she meant was not what she said. This little bit of domestic ambiguitv reminded me, perhaps rather naturally, of the Cashel Street conveniences controversv. Mav they not alfo be an innocent remark which might have been better put? A slight and inexpensive verbal alteration, so to say, would seem to be sufficient to settle the dust. I quite agree with your correspondent, R. M. Thompson’s remarks about the necessity for these conveniences, in fact for more of them and less of the rampant mock modesty and prudery generally exhibited regarding them. But I also can see defects in the planning and placing of the superstructure of these particular conveniences. The provision of such necessities is one thing, but the obtrusive display of them is quite another. To begin with, it should not jut out on the line of footpath in a main arterial shopping street. It should be decently relegated back to the shop line or farther, ror another thing, the exits and entrances, two in all should be sufficient, should be screen* ed from the Cashel Street frontage which should show, if any superstructure is necessary, a simple low cement or brick parapet which could be passed, I hope without perturbation, by the most modest. In its present form the thing is an affront to civic decency and should be remodelled on the lines I have suggested, but to do away with it completely would be more indecent than even to retain it in its present unseemliness.—l am, etc., lIOKKO JODOCUS.