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74
As a result of the adoption by the Conference of the proposed by-law
representations were made to the London County Council by the Metropolitan
Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee, and by the majority of local
authorities in London, requesting the County Council to make a by-law
for the emission of black smoke in terms already quoted.
In connection with the subject of special training in smoke abatement
it should be mentioned that three of the Council's Sanitary Inspectors
have taken a further technical course at their own cost and in their own
time, and have passed an examination entitling them to hold certificates
as persons specially qualified to deal with the question of smoke prevention.
As regards the objection raised by industrial representatives that two
minutes is too short a period for permissible black smoke, it should be
pointed out that in Westminster, at any rate, the best results in smoke
abatement have been achieved by consultation between the Council's
Inspectors and those responsible for smoke nuisance. The absence of
legal proceedings for many years past shows that practical advice, given
by specially trained officers has been effective. Smoke nuisance in most
cases is the result of careless or ignorant stoking, and it is only in instances
where advice has been persistently flouted that legal enforcement is
required.

Bailersea Power Station.—The possibility of pollution of the atmosphere
from sulphur fumes likely to emanate from the large power station
now in course of erection near the river at Battersea has created grave
apprehensions in the mind of the City Council. Throughout the year,
public interest, stimulated by representations from local authorities likely
to be affected and by letters from experts to the "Times," developed
into a protest against what appeared to be a project which would add
potentially to the pollution already experienced.