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42
Harrogate and that the soap and fuel costs averaged 7½d. per week
more.
It is unfortunately true that some local authorities feel that
because they have no industries, action by them is unnecessary
and, again, many authorities accept pollution as a necessary evil.
This almost passive acceptance of air pollution by many urban
authorities will, in years to come, be considered as reprehensible
as the toleration of open sewers in the early days of public health.
At present, limited power to control smoke nuisance is vested
in local authorities, but the number of these operating pollution
gauges is only 7% of the whole. Despite vigorous efforts made by
the National Smoke Abatement Society to improve the situation in
this direction, progress has been slow and, as a consequence, information
is still somewhat scanty.
However, in December of this year a four-day smoke fog caused
the deaths of some 4,000 people in the London area and forcibly
brought the question of atmospheric pollution, albeit in many
instances only temporarily, to the notice of the public in general.
As a result, the Government were stimulated into setting up an
Investigating Committee.
This Investigating Committee, presumably, will examine the
whole legislative field and make recommendations. It seems that
several procedures could be adopted as a beginning.
Firstly, the designation and creation of smokeless areas in large
cities within which all domestic grates would be of the smokeless
fuel type and the suitable modification of factory plant to eliminate
smoke and grit emission.
Secondly, more stringent laws should be enacted with precise
standards laid down and easily enforced legally.
Thirdly, all new dwellings built either by private builder or
local authorities should be fitted with smokeless fuel fires. The
open grate should be entirely eliminated.
These measures would at least be a start on what will be a
tremendous task which will eventually enhance the appearance of
our cities and purify and clarify our atmosphere while reducing the
annual mortality of our older people from lung and heart complaints
in the depths of winter.
The position in regard to atmospheric pollution is a national,
nay, an international scandal, which must be handled with resolution
and courage, unencumbered by foolish and uninformed prejudice
or selfish vested interests.