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19
SMOKE ABATEMENT.
There is not much change in the conditions of atmospheric
pollution. We have few complaints from the northern part of the
district, but complaints are frequent from the inhabitants of the
Southern areas. This state of affairs is due to several causes. The
first and principal cause probably is the fact that the factories in
the north-west ward are new and the furnaces have been properly
planned, whilst those in the south-west ward have been adapted
and are not always suitable for the purpose.
Another cause also arises from an attempt to economize,
and to burn a cheap fuel in an unsuitable furnace. A natural
overllary, say, to the appointment of a new manager, is an verhaul
of the expenses, and one of the first items to be attacked is the
price of coal. The former manager, goaded by our nonces, had
been using a good grade of coal, and knew that there was no option
had to do so if he wished to avoid complaints. A change of management
frequently means an endeavour to use a cheaper variety of
and with the inevitable result of constant complaints not only of
smoke but grit and dust. Apart from the question of smoke; a
factory in a residential area will usually be a cause of complaint,
and in most instances, naturally so.
There is very little improvement in smoke abatement from
domestic chimneys. It is generally agreed, that even in a partially
Undustrial area like Acton, the domestic chimney is a greater culprit
have the factory chimney; there is some improvement because of
the increasing use of gas and electricity both in cooking and heating,
but very little attempt is made to use smokeless fuel in the domestic
grates.
ERADICATION OF BED BUGS.
The information under this heading is defective as we have
no means of ascertaining the number of Council and other houses
formal to be infested and disinfested. The Public Health Department
does not disinfest the Council houses, and from recent reports
the methods which have been employed for freeing infested houses
from bed bugs have not been entirely successful. Throughout the
country this problem has been of great magnitude, and recently,
researches have been carried out in order to secure a disinfectant
which is harmless to human beings, lethal in all stages of bed-bug
and egg cheap and fairly easily applied, readily removed by
ventilation and harmless to furniture and fittings. It is claimed
that heavy naphtha fulfils these conditions fairly successfully but
from all accounts, certain precautions have to be observed if
successful results are to be obtained.