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may now be approved. In addition, reasonably necessary costs
of removing the coal burning appliances qualify for grant in the
usual way. Seven tenths of the cost of the work approved by the
local authority is repayable to the householder.
In conclusion one must stress the fact that there must be no
let-up in efforts to obtain 100% smoke control in our Borough. This
is most important when one considers that domestic smoke, characterised
by its high tar content and low level emission, and
concentrated during the worst sort of weather for polluting the
air, is now the most serious single constituent of the air pollution
problem in the country. 85% of the total smoke now emitted is
of domestic origin. It will be seen, therefore, that the remedy
lies very much in the hands of local authorities, who should
proceed as quickly as possible with their smoke control programme
and the householders who eventually will come into these smoke
control areas.
Clean air is now becoming accepted by the public — like
pure water — as one of the simple bare necessities of life, and
ratepayers are beginning to protest when they do not get it. This
is an amazing state of affairs when one considers the opposition
found to early Smoke Control Orders. However, it reflects the
far sightedness and wisdom of the Council in giving its support
to these measures and it is hoped that despite present financial
restrictions this support for this very important aspect of the
health of the community will continue.
All this century we have had pure water supply and the
public are beginning to realise that they are entitled to air of
quality and purity equivalent to that of water.
Over the years of the Clean Air programme the proportion of
hours of sunshine in London in relation to hours of sunshine
outside, which is associated with the smoke concentration has
changed considerably. In 1900 — 1930 London had a mere 15% —
30% of the available sunshine, but since the Clean Air Act, London
has enjoyed upwards of 70%. The last figure recorded was
actually 95%.
It might well be, therefore, that in years to come, instead
of local authorities and other organisations having measuring
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