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92
CONFERENCE ON SMOKE ABATEMENT.
In September last, the Royal Sanitary Institute issued invitations to all
Municipal Authorities throughout the Kingdom to send delegates to a Conference
and Exhibition on Smoke Abatement arranged by that body, and in
conjunction with the Coal Smoke Abatement Society. The Conference was
held at the Horticultural Hall, Westminster, from December 12th to loth, the
Chairman of the Sanitary Committee (Mr. G. T. S. Tranter) and your
Medical Officer of Health attending as representatives of the Corporation.
The question of the abatement of smoke and its attendant evils, including
the reduction in daylight and sunshine, has an important bearing on the
public health. In addition to the prevention of smoke from factories, much
might be done to reduce the volume of smoke from dwellings, which in the
aggregate probably amounts to as much as that from factories, by the increased
use of gas and electricity and smokeless fuel and by encouraging improved
forms of stove and grate construction, and it was in order to ascertain in which
way this important problem might best be approached, that the Conference in
question was convened.
With a view to the collection of accurate information on the subject, a series
of questions were submitted to Local Authorities charged by the Public Health
Acts with the duty of abating nuisances arising from black smoke.
From the 205 replies to these questions, a considerable amount of interesting
information may be extracted, and while it is true that a feeling of indifference
or hopelessness is manifested by the minority of Sanitary Authorities, the
reports show that on the whole when a Local Authority takes steps with the
determination to enforce the provisions of the Public Health Acts, it has not
experienced insuperable difficulties in minimising the inconvenience and
danger to health consequent upon the emission of black smoke.
The following subjects were fully discussed during the conference:—
Domestic Smoke Abatement.
Factory and Trade Smoke Abatement.
Administration, Legislation, and necessary reform.
As the result of their deliberations, the Conference passed the following
Resolution:—
"That in view of the need for husbanding our coal resources, the deplorable
"and increasing evils produced by smoky fogs, and the desirability of
"providing a cheap smokeless fuel for domestic and industrial use, the Councils
"of the Royal Sanitary Institute and the Coal Smoke Abatement Society be
"asked to join in a memorial to His Majesty's Government setting forth the
"urgency of these questions."
The Council of the Royal Sanitary Institute decided to record this Resolution
and to state that they would join the proposed memorial, subject to its being
submitted and approved by them.