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69
Shops with open fronts present their own particular problems to which
your officers have given much attention in consultation with the owners of such
properties, and a considerable measure of agreement has been achieved.
Many difficulties would be obviated if forecourt trading could be abolished.
Apart from the removal of discomfort from exposure of employees to inclement
weather, there would be considerable improvement in the standard of food
distribution.
The remedy is in the hands of the purchasing public, who should refuse to buy
foodstuffs exposed in the open air.
10. SMOKE ABATEMENT.
Domestic.—The general public is inclined to overlook the fact that the domestic
fire contributes largely to the dirt and drab conditions found in towns, in addition
to injury to health.
We like to see the houses in Barking freshly painted but we object to the results
being spoilt shortly afterwards by smoke and soot, and so far as domestic smoke is
concerned, needlessly.
The Council will shortly be erecting some 400 houses, and so will have an
opportunity of contributing to the smoke abatement problem.
It is now accepted, without question, that the modern housewife prefers to do
her cooking by gas or clcctricity. In fact gas or electricity is found practicable for
all purposes, except for long period heating.
From a hygienic standpoint it is urgent that there shall be one open fire at least
in the house. Having agreed on this the problem is as to how this open fire can be
provided without smoke. You may say we cannot make any tenant burn a
smokeless fuel. This may be so but you can in respect of your own houses provide
and fix grates which are capable of burning coke as well as coal.
There are now several kinds of low temperature coke and there is also good
quality gas-coke which is growing in popularity on account of its relative cheapness.
The manufacturers of grates have produced many types in which coke will burn
brightly and freely. These grates are usually provided with a good air supply to
the fuel bed and some form of gas ignition.