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Smoke Nuisances.
35 observations were kept on chimneys and 4 notices served.
The following is a report submitted to the Committee on
April 24th, 1923: —
"In a letter to this Council on the 8th March last the
County Council informed us that the Public Control Committee
have under consideration the question of atmospheric
pollution and fog prevention, and in connection therewith,
they had before them the report of the Departmental Committee
on Smoke and Noxious Vapours Abatement, issued on
the 6th December, 1921. They enclosed a Summary of
Recommendations of this report, and drew special attention
to No. 4. The following are the recommendations: —
(a) With regard to industrial smoke.
1. That the Minister of Health should be given clearly
defined power to compel or act in place of any defaulting
authority which refuses to perform its duty in administering
the law with regard to smoke.
2. That the general legal obligation on all manufacturers,
users and occupiers of any business premises or
processes, engines or plant of any description whatever
should be to use the best practicable means, having regard
to all the circumstances of the case, for avoiding the
pollution of the air by smoke, grit or any other noxious
emissions; that the same law should also apply to all
Government establishments and all rail and road locomotives
and motor cars of whatever weight or type, and
to steamers on rivers, estuaries and lakes.
It must be clearly understood that questions of cost
must be taken into account in determining what is
practicable.
3. That the Minister of Health should be empowered
to fix standards from time to time, and in any case in