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NOISE .ABATMENT (Cont.)
(ii) Loudspeakers in streets (cont.)
(b) For communicating with persons on a vessel
for the purpose of directing the movement
of that or any other vessel;
(c) If the loudspeaker forms part of a public
telephone system;
(d) If the loudspeaker
(1) is in or fixed to a vehicle; and
(2) is operated solely for the entertainment
of or for communicating with the driver
or a passenger of the vehicle or, where
the loudspeaker is or forms part of the
horn or similar warning instrument of the
vehicle, solely for giving warning to
other traffic; and
(3) is so operated as not to give reasonable
cause for annoyance to persons in the
vicinity;
(e) Otherwise than on a highway, by persons employed
in connection with a transport undertaking used
by the public in a case where the loudspeaker is
operated solely for making announcements to
passengers or prospective passengers or to other
persons so employed;
(f) By a travelling showman on land which is being
used for the purpose of a pleasure fair;
(g) In case of emergency.
No trade, business or entertainment may be
advertised by loudspeakers at any time, except that between
noon and 7 p.m. a loudspeaker fixed to a vehicle used for
the sale of perishable foodstuffs may be operated to announce
that the commodities are on sale; the loudspeaker is, however,
not to be so operated as to give reasonable cause for annoyance
to persons in the vicinity.
(iii) Byelaws.
Section 4 preserves existing byelaws and byelawmaking
powers.
The public soon became interested in this Act and 16 complaints
were received during the year, some of which were rather trivial.
All the complaints were investigated, and by persuasive
means a number of items received attention which brought relief if
not complete satisfaction to those aggrieved.
This is a new field of activity for the Public Health
Inspectors as hitherto no such powers have been in the hands of
Councils except those with local Act provisions.
The subject has therefore had to be approached with caution,
out the response of those who found they were causing annoyance
(even though insufficient evidence had been obtained to prove
actual nuisance) has been most co-operative.
It seems likely therefore that tactful handling of the situation
will in most cases produce the desired results without recourse to
statutory action, which is just as well, for the prescribed
procedure appears to present many difficulties for those charged
with the administration of the Act if the need for prosecutions
should arise.
42.