View report page

46
attitude is adopted because it is repeated so readily that an English
household will not do without its open fire. But just as the war was
able to bring about an end to the use of the many hundreds of private
slaughterhouses, might it not be that the results of the war might bring
about an end to an insistence on the open fire ? It is stated at times that
the fate of the country hangs on its being possible to export so many
tons of coal ; and then discussion passes to a consideration of what might
be done to increase the amount of coal won from the mines. Would it
not be as well that at lease an equal amount of attention be given to the
question of putting to the best use the coal which has been obtained and
that not only in the industrial field but in what is consumed in the home.
The open hearth is the most wasteful way of heating a room, much of
the heat being dissipated and much of the fuel passing up the chimney
unconsumed, there causing atmospheric pollution.
Some towns arc taking steps to bring about an improvement by
scheduling smokeless zones. It is to be regretted that no steps were
taken to insist on only really efficient heating units being installed in
any new houses being erected. There are open fires which are very
much more economical in fuel consumption than the older type of open
fire, while providing just as much heat in the room. The replacement of
many of the less efficient grates by those of this pattern would be a step
towards both a smaller fuel consumption and a reduced pollution of the
atmosphere. These grates, however, although such an improvement on
the older pattern, are not such efficient heating units as stoves, of which
there are very satisfactory patterns. Besides securing that a greater
proportion of the heat produced by the fuel consumed in a stove is used
in actually warming the air of the room, the stove has the advantage of
its being an efficient consumer of smokeless fuels. The economic interests
of the country would be served by the greater use of such efficient heating
units in the houses, quite apart from the secondary advantages of a reduction
in the pollution of the atmosphere. It would seem to be worthwhile
then actively encouraging, even possibly by financial assistance being
given to householders, the conversion of existing relatively inefficient
heating units in the homes to those of the more efficient type.
During the year, 26 observations were made of factory chimneys.
On six occasions the attention of those responsible was drawn to the
quantity of smoke being emitted.
In only one of these cases was the nuisance found to be due to causes
difficult to remedy, and here action is being taken to instal a grit arresting
plant. In four cases the smoke emission was the result of lapses in
stoking ; and in the other a breakdown in a mechanical stoker.
Rat Infestation.
During the year, 1,475 complaints of rats or mice were received.
In the case of 95 of these complaints, no infestation was found. Steps to
destroy the rats or mice were taken in the remaining 1,380. No major
infestations were found and of the complaints received which involved
private dwellings, most were associated with poultry keeping.