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ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION. The Importance of clean air is at long last being recognised
by the man in the street. Little trouble has been experienced in connection with excessive
smoke from factory chimneys but the gentleman who coined the phrase "Burn your refuse and
save your rates" has much to answer for. Refuse should not be burnt in the small garden
surrounded by houses where the resulting smoke and odours are an offence to the inhabitants
at large.
On the industrial side, I am afraid that speaking generally it is still true to say
that nobody in the whole factory uses so much of the firmTs money as the man in the boiler
house and few are paid so little for doing it. He is usually the only one who does not
produce any record of what return he gets for the money. The tragedy of it is that he may
attend classes, he may study the significance of the happenings and the chemical combinations
occurring in his boiler furnacea and by so doing become more efficient resulting in quite
huge savings In fuel costs but it usually makes no difference. The loss of incentive, the
damping down of enthusiasm with resulting loss in economy is to be deplored. Boiler firing
is a skilled trade and should be paid as such.
101 observations were taken of industrial chimneys but in no case was action by way
of statutory proceedings necessary.
SHOPS ACT, 1950. The total number of visits made during the year in respect of the
Shops Act, 1950, was 2,548 and 260 infringements were detected. The majority of these were
of a technical nature in respect of which 249 verbal cautions were given regarding the
exhibition of forms, and the keeping of required records of assistants1 times of employment
etc. In cases of a more persistent nature 11 warnings were issued.
The actual closing hours of shops, however, have been regulated more by general
shortage of things to sell, with the result that no administrative difficulties relating
to closing generally have been experienced. The earlier closing has also been reflected
in the hours of employment of shop assistants. The period under review has seen more
young persons employed about business of shops, and the administrative work by the
inspector has, in the main, been concerned with the service conditions of these young
persons.
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