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32
Smoke Abatement.(Cont/n.)
From correspondence received in the office,
however, it is becoming clear that there is a gradual
awakening to the reality of the need for concerted action
in this important subject. It is gratifying also to find,
in conversation with housewives - who are the sufferers
from, as well as in many instances the cause of, the
nuisance - and factory executives, that they are thinking
about the problem and are anxious to avoid causing
unnecessary smoke.
In Kingston we are fortunate in that we may
enjoy clear skies and atmosphere for the greater part of
the year for there are no industries such as smelting in
the borough. Metallurgical processes are responsible for
heavy pollution of the atmosphere with sulphur dioxide,
and they continue to so pollute the air the whole year
round. But, nevertheless, in this town there is the
smoke problem from domestic house chimneys and from time
to time this is accentuated by nuisance from factory
chimneys. Perhaps because of the comparatively clean
atmosphere, it seems that when a factory chimney does
offend, it is not long before it is observed by near-by
residents, and the attention of the Inspector is drawn
to it. Not infrequently the complaint arrives after the
offence had been officially observed and appropriate action
had been taken.
During the year 15 complaints were received and
were investigated.
It may not be generally known that in legal terms
the word 'smoke' includes grit, and this form of nuisance
has been met with in several instances. Reference was made
in the previous annual report to one such case, and during
1947 the installation of a natural draught griu arrester was
completed in connection with the steam raising plant at the
laundry premises which were the subject of that reporto The
equipment appears to have proved effective and no further
complaints have been received.
Amongst the complaints which were received was one
regarding the emission of grit from a chimney stack of a
factory engaged in dyeing and cleaning. Investigations showed
that the grit was of heavy character and accordingly was
falling within a well defined circumscribed area around the
offending chimney. Whilst in this case it could not be considered
that the stoking was efficient, there were contributory
causes for the nuisance in the form of unsatisfactory
fuel and inherent defects in the design of the plant.
In order to show that improvement could be effected
by more efficient stoking, the co-operation of the Ministry of
Fuel and Power was invited. A competent stoker was brought
to the factory to demonstrate to the boiler house staff how
the furnace should be stoked. During this demonstration
firing over a period of 24 hours, the amount of grit emitted
was very much reduced. Unfortunately this high standard was
not maintained by the normal staff, and the nuisance continued
and was not abated at the end of the year. At that
time the question of installing a suitably designed grit
arrester was under consideration, but there were very considerable
technical difficulties in the way of adopting
this form of remedy.
Arising out of this case and others of less degree
of severity, consideration was given to the question of
arranging training classes for stokers and boiler house staffs
in the town. These consultations were not completed in 1947,
but it was hoped that classes would be available in boiler
house practice at the local Technical Institute before the
following Winter.