Hoardings - Advertising Space. Dombey's Advertisement on Bubbling Well Rd. John Liddell's Complaint. 1910-1914. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (2024-2031)

Letter from John Liddell to Secretary. Shanghai, March 24, 1910.  Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (2024). 

Is there any regulation regarding advertisements in the Settlement ? I remember F. Anderson was very much opposed to flaring posters on the Bubbling Well Road, claiming that being a residential area it should be protected from unsightly posters. Opposite my house, "Royal Baking Powder and Boomerang Brandy" appear to be the favourite mixtures. 

I think some limits might be imposed as to the height of these advertisements and their character. 

If you could prevail upon the blighter who advertises as above to be a little less flagrant I would feel awfully obliged.

PS Dombey & Son are apparently the proprietors of the Ranch opposite and advertise from cellar to roof. 

Report by Engineer & Surveyor to Secretary - "ADVERTISING - Letter from Mr. John Liddell dated March 28, 1910". Shanghai, April 14, 1910.  Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (2025).

Dombey & Son are quite within their legal rights in advertising as they do and the Council has no power to compel them even to modify their advertisements. Mr Liddell might perhaps be able to persuade them if he pointed out that the advertisements were not quite in keeping with the locality.

Report by A.M.A Evans (Dombey & Son) to Secretary. Shanghai, April 22, 1910.  Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (2026).

Re advertisement pictures and posters in the Bubbling Well District, it must be the object of Dombey & Son to eater to the taste of the residents not only from an epicurean point but also from the aesthetic therefore if I can do anything to assist it will be willingly done. 

Letter to John Liddell from Secretary. Shanghai, April 22, 1910. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (2027).

With regard to your note of March 28 as to the advertisements opposite your house in the Bubbling Well Road, the Council is in complete sympathy with what you write, but regrets its deficient power of control. I enclose a copy of a letter which has been sent to Mr. Evans, of whom Dombey & Son is said practically to consist. This is only a preliminary step in the matter, the Council spoke of going the extreme length of blocking the advertisements from sight with a fence, if no other course successed. 
Mackinnon will you posted as to how the matter fares. 

Acting Secretary to Engineer & Surveyor - "Street Advertisements". Shanghai, April 23, 1910. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (2028).

Herewith copy of further correspondence re Mr. Liddell"s complaint. Will you please let me know what is done say one week from now. 

Report by Engineer & Surveyor. Shanghai to Acting Secretary, May 5, 1910. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (2029-2030).

More than a week has passed but Dombey & Son have not removed or modified their advertisements. 

Report from Overseer of Taxes to Acting Engineer & Surveyor. Shanghai, April 27, 1910. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (2031).

Under instructions form the Secretary I requested the Secretary of Commissioner of Foreign Affairs to have the advertisements removed from the wall of the premises No. 122 Bubbling Well Road. His reply is that these bills are posted without authority and he will be glad if the Council will have them removed and take steps to prevent further bill posting. Can you therefore arrange to have them washed off and a notice as enclosed affixed to the wall. 

Notice enclosed by the  Overseer of Taxes (Chinese characters forbidding bill posting - undated). Shanghai, April 27, 1910. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-14-3256 (2032).

不許招貼如違送捕 (Buxuzhaotie ru weisongbu) : No bill posting, anyone contravening this interdiction would be arrested