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19
at which your Public Health Department was represented. I think that
in the event this was helpful as it not only elicited the complaints from
residents but also the difficulties of dealing with every complaint in a
manner calculated to give complete satisfaction to the complainant.
Whilst it may be that on occasion dust and the like is in fact present in
the atmosphere to a degree likely to attract attention the important
thing is that it must be established initially whether the dust or other
cause of complaint is in fact occurring in spite of every reasonable step
having been taken to prevent its occurrence. It is our experience in
Hornchurch that industry appears to be as anxious as we are that no
cause for reasonable complaint should exist.
Atmospheric pollution difficulties arising from industrial processes
require more than willingness and the expenditure of substantial sums
to secure their solution. The matter is necessarily governed also by
the degree of scientific progress which can be brought to bear on the
problem. In the case of a large undertaking the effects of even a very
small percentage of what one might reasonably—in the light of present
knowledge—term inevitable pollution can give rise to serious public
concern.
The degree of pollution caused by the household chimney is not
yet fully recognised by householders who are naturally prone to accept
that any industrial chimney they see emitting smoke is in fact almost
solely the 'villain of the piece'. Although understandable this reflects
the position in somewhat too simple a light.
It is to be hoped that next year will see the solution to the problem of
pollution from St. George's Hospital chimney as it is anticipated that
chain grate stokers will then be introduced and should obviate cause
for further complaint. It is true that the year under review has proved
somewhat unsatisfactory from the point of view of the operation of this
chimney. It is also true of course—and this is in no wise offered as an
excuse—that the somewhat isolated position of this chimney renders
the possibility of any pollution through its operation escaping attention
a most unlikely happening.
Routine Observations:
Our programme continued its normal course. On the operation
of No. 2 Smoke Control Area observation of the last 3 months of the
year was continued through the smoke filter at Scargill School which
during that period had become absorbed in the Smoke Control Area.
It will be interesting to note the smoke filter results now that it is
sited within such an area as compared with the results prior to its being
so sited.