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44
Bill, introduced to remedy the position is now before Parliament,
and is expected to become Jaw during 1956.
It would appear that with the exception of processes registered
under the Alkali Act, the administration of the Clean Air Act is to
be in the hands of the local authorities, although in certain circumstances
the Minister is to have power to transfer to the local authority
the duty of exercising control over the emission of smoke, grit and
dust from processes so registered.
Legislation of this nature is long overdue and its effectiveness
will depend upon the energy and enthusiasm with which it is enforced.
The problem is no mean one for local authorities and it is
clear that ultimately it will be upon the measure of co-operation of
the Sanitary Inspectors with manufacturers, owners and occupiers
that success will depend.
Two things are necessary for the evils of air pollution to be overcome
: firstly, sufficient reliable information about the kind of pollution
present ; and, secondly, there must be a qualified staff to interpret
this information and advise accordingly. It has been estimated
that there is a deficiency of Sanitary Inspectors in the country
to the extent of 10%, and re-allocation of duties resultant upon the
introduction of a Clean Air Act will doubtless lead to temporary
difficulties. Nevertheless, Public Health staffs can be relied upon
to play their full part in a campaign to provide a cleaner and more
wholesome atmosphere.
Anticipating the introduction of a Clean Air Act and the
necessity for more local information, the Council authorised the
establishment of two stations for the measurement of atmospheric
pollution : one in the Public Health Department at the Town Hall
and the other at Charlton House ; and these came into operation
in June of the current year.
The stations, which were set up and equipped in accordance
with the advice and guidance of the Fuel Research Station, measure
the concentrations of smoke and sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere.
Normally, readings are taken every 24 hours, but in foggy weather,
at the request of the Director of the Fuel Research Station, 3-hourly
readings are taken during office hours, and in the period under
review there were four occasions on which this procedure was instituted,
viz : 16th and 17th November, 30th November, 19th December
and 4th, 5th and 6th January, 1956.