View report page

18
Upon investigation, not all the complaints were justified.
Very often when attention is drawn by occupiers of houses near
industrial premises to nuisance from soot particles, it is found
that the cause is of domestic origin. There is no doubt that,
with very few exceptions, the industrial plants in the town,
most of which have been converted to oil firing, are maintained
at a high degree of efficiency and are operating well within
the limits which are likely to be required by Regulation,, One
can only reiterate what has been stated in earlier reports,
namely, that the main source of avoidable atmospheric pollution
in the town is from domestic fires.Raw coal is such a valuable
national asset that we cannot afford to burn it wastefully in
open domestic grates.
Some Interest was aroused in last year's report on the
fuel economies which can be effected by the fitting of
restricters in the flues of fireplaces. There must be an immense
number of firegrates in the town which could be improved by simple
modification and consequently enable more heat to be made available
by the use of less fuel.
There should be a national policy of clean air and a close
co-operation between the national boards which produce and use
fuelo At present it is more difficult to obtain smokeless fuel
than coal. Co-operation between the Coal and Gas Boards could
reverse this position.
It must be again repeated that the occupiers of the prefabricated
bungalows in the town could materially improve the
condition of the atmosphere around their dwellings if they used
coke instead of ccal. The grates installed in these bungalows
are designed to burn coke.
With regard to the recording of atmospheric pollution
in Kingston, three standard deposit gauges have been maintained
by the Corporation and were located after consultation with
the Department of Scientific Researchp in Canbury Gardens, at
Tiffin Girls' School and the Cemetery, Bonner Hill Road. They
are, for the purposes of report, referred to as 'A', 'B' and
'C' respectively.
It was, however, decided during the year to discontinue
records from the instrument located at the Cemetery,, It was
felt that the costs of maintaining this instrument could be
better devoted to the provision of a daily volumetric smoke
and sulphur dioxide instrument. This instrument is fixed on
the roof of the Guildhall, but it was not possible to commence
recording during the year.
The following tables give the results of analysis, together
with rainfall and wind readings,, The figures are from observations
made to show the effect when the prevailing wind was blowing
from industrial sources towards the recording stations.