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FLY NUISANCE. Special investigations were again carried
out by Sanitary Inspectors of all places where flies were likely
to breed, and particular attention was given to an area at
Rippleside in the neighbourhood of a colony of 300 bungalows.
A distribution of insecticide was made to the occupants of the
bungalows, and a special spray treatment carried out in adjoining
piggeries, stables and refuse tip where we found the source
of the trouble.
SMOKE MENACE. Monthly measurements of atmospheric
pollution, both solid and gaseous, have been collected for a
full year. The results demonstrate again the sharp rise in
pollution in the winter months. Atmospheric pollution for the
period October - March was 33% greater than that for the period
April - September. The monthly supply of fuel used by
factories for their industrial processes would be approximately
constant throughout the year with a small increase in winter
due to the need to heat the factory premises. The marked
increase in the pollution of the atmosphere in the month of
October is indicated in the table on page 18. This is the
month when most people begin to light fires indoors, and it is
reasonable to suppose that much of the increase may be attributed
to domestic chimneys.
There is no means of controlling pollution from this
source by legal action, but efforts are being made both nationally
and locally to encourage the use of smokeless fuels and the
installation of grates suitable for this purpose.
Houses now being erected by Local Authorities throughout
the country are being equipped with grates capable of burning
smokeless fuel, and it has been recommended by the Minister of
Health that all houses reconditioned by a grant under the Housing
Act, 1949, should bo similarly equipped.
The burning of raw coal in inefficient open grates has
long been considered wasteful. The old fashioned open grate
has an efficiency of about 23% whilst a modern closable type of
stove using smokeless fuel produces an efficiency of about 65%
A vast amount of potential power is lost up the chimney in the
form of unburnt gas, carbon and tar. It is the tarry content of
domestic smoke which causes discolouration and disfigurntion
of buildings duo to its adhesive nature.
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