View report page

77
WATER SUPPLY TO NEW HOUSES.
During the year 49 new houses were certified as
having a proper and sufficient water supply.
SMOKE NUISANCE.
During the year, 22 formal observations of smoke
shafts were made, but no nuisances were observed of
such a character as to cause notices to be served.
The Public Health (Smoke Abatement) Act, 1926,
which will come into force on the 1st July, 1927,
makes some slight alterations in the law with regard
to smoke nuisances. An important change is that an
emission of smoke need not be black in order to be
deemed a nuisance, the definition of smoke is made
to include soot, ash, grit, etc., and the maximum
penalties for offences are substantially increased. The
value of the Act is, however, somewhat discounted
by a provision that any person charged may plead
that he has used the best practicable means for
preventing the nuisance having regard to the cost
and to local conditions and circumstances. The Act
maintains the exemption of private dwelling houses
from the law with regard to smoke nuisances.
This matter is of considerable public health
importance. Few things contribute so greatly to the
polluted state of the atmosphere and to the reduction
of vital sun rays reaching us as the emission of coal
smoke into the air. This applies just as much to the
private dwelling house as to the factory. It is to be
hoped that gas and electricity will increasingly take
the place of the wasteful and polluting coal fires,
although those who are attached to the old open grate
can obtain appliances burning smokeless coke which
are quite economical and clean. Bethnal Green, in
particular, needs the maximum amount of clean air
and available sunlight for the health of its population,
children and adults alike, as some counter influence
to the congested housing conditions which prevail.