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97
the vicinity of Kingston Power Station, lasting about four hours,
which occurred in August. The boilers had been completely shut
down for two weeks and when they were started up in the morning of the
occurrence, condensation in the cold flues, coupled possibly with
thermal movement of the metal, must have caused the formation and
detachment of scale. The precise mechanism by which the scale was
formed and emitted is still under investigation, but there has been
no recurrence. On matters concerning the Power Station, the
department maintains a close liaison with H.H. Alkali Inspector and
also with the Power Station authorities, who make every effort to keep
air pollution to a minimum. It is opportune to emphasize that the
combustion of coal in large industrial boilers under properly controlled
conditions, such as are maintained at the Power Station, does
not result in the emission of substances injurious to health. This
cannot be said of the 'burning of raw coal in the domestic grate, which
causes the emission at low level of tar laden smoke. According to
present medical opinion the inhaling of air polluted with domestic
smoke can cause chronic bronchitis.
10. RODENT AMD INSECT PEST CONTROL,
It is possible to be able to report a further reduction in the
number of premises found to be infested by rodents. The figure of
1.7% of the premises in the Borough where rats were found compares
with a national average for urban areas of 2.0%. This was the
figure for the Borough during the first year of amalgamation.
In spite of the nuisance and damage caused by pigeons it has not
been possible adequately to persuade people not to feed the birds to
excess and it is disappointing to note the presence of large flocks
of birds both in Kingston and Surbiton despite the efforts of the
department to control them and this is of serious concern both to us
and a proportion of the general public.
Squirrels are also a nuisance in certain parts of the Borough and
the department prepared an advisory leaflet on the subject similar to
that produced on wasps which proved to be very successful. Both
leaflets are available on request.
We were fortunate in being able to maintain a full staff in this
section during the year.