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This stand explained about the grants what they are for. and how they can be
obtained. A model was included showing typical old houses before and after improvement.
STANDS Nos.17 and 18 CLEAN AIR PLATE No.7
We breathe about 3,000 gallons or 38 lb. of air every day. In towns, this air is
heavily polluted by smoke (including soot, ash, grit and tar) and sulphur acids, caused by
the burning of coal, over 200 million tons of which is burned annually in Great Britain.
The burning of this coal produces nearly 3 million tons of smoke and grit, besides over 4
million tons of sulphur acids, which is all discharged into the air. About half of all the
smoke present in the air comes from household chimneys and for each ton of coal burnt the
domestic fire produces twice as much smoke as industry and discharges it at a lower level.
Smoke is mostly unburned coal and is just wasted heat - paid for but not used! In
effect the entire output of 10,000 miners is lost. Smoke cuts off health-giving sunlight
and daylight (in winter by as much as 60%) causing a higher Death Rate in towns than in
the country it blackens and damages the lungs and irritates the throat and breathing
passages, encouraging bronchitis coughs and catarrh and making recovery from pneumonia
and tuberculosis more difficult. The ill effects of smoke are greatly intensified during
periods of smog (the smog of December 1952 caused 4,000 deaths in Greater London). Smoke
damages buildings, metals and fabrics it harms vegetation, it makes laundry bills higher
and causes unnecessary expenditure on cleaning glass and paintwork.
At a conservative estimate, smoke costs the nation £250 millions a year or £25 for
every family.
In view of the recent passing of the Clean Air Act which aims at the reduction and
eventual abolition of air pollution the themes portrayed on this stand were of great
importance and of topical interest. The causes, effects and remedies of air pollution were
described and illustrated by models, photographs and other exhibits. Apparatus for the
measurement of pollution was also displayed this apparatus was similar to that installed
at the Public Health Offices Sidmouth Road where daily measurements of the amount of
pollution by smoke and sulphur dioxide have been made for the past seven years in co op
eration with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. A working model of a
town demonstrated the formation of smog and several film strips dealing with various
aspects of the subject of Clean Air were shown at intervals.
STANDS Nos.19 and 20 RODENT AND PEST CONTROL PLATE No.8
The Council is represented on an Area Committee set up by the Infestation Control
Division of the Ministry of Agriculture. Fisheries and Pood the central authority for
rodent and pest control to deal generally with the problem of rodent control in liaison
with adjoining Boroughs. The Committee comprises representatives of 11 neighbouring local
authorities.
There is a statutory obligation on the part of occupiers of property to report to
their local authorities the presence of rats and mice and unless there is full co operation
by the public in this matter effective control measures are extremely difficult to carry
out.
Staff is available in the Public Health Department to deal with infestations of rats
and mice in business premises and dwelling houses. This service is free to tenants of
domestic premises, but a charge is made to commercial and industrial undertakings.
The Ministry's exhibit featured the common rat and illustrated the main points of
rodent infestation in town and country. Rats and mice devour and contaminate vast quantities
of foodstuffs. They do great damage to property by gnawing woodwork water pipes electric
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