LONDONERS MAY USE MASKS AGAINST SMOG

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27193, 10 November 1953, Page 9

LONDONERS MAY USE MASKS AGAINST SMOG

LONDON LETTER

[By K. W. McCOOK, London Correspondent of "The Press"]

London, October 30.—Will London become a city of masked people if the deadly “killer smogs” of last year descend on the.city again this winter? Six thousand doctors of the London Medical Committee hope so. Alarmed at the lack of action or advice from a special committee set up by the Government to study the smog problem the doctors have devised a cheap (6£d) home-made mask which will prevent heavier coal and dust reaching the* lungs. At a press conference this week the doctors explained how their home-made surgeons’ mask could be made by folding surgical gauze six times and then sewing tapes to the four corners so that the mask would cover the nose and mouth. The doctors’ warning coinmded with the first of London’s winter smogs. Although it caused little interruption to traffic, the smog was,bad enough to make eyes water after' a few minutes in it. Light breezes dissipated it before it had a Chance to build up to a lethal density. The Ministry of Health started a controversy after the doctors’ announcement when it Criticised the home-made masks as ineffective. Agreeing that there was no simple universal remedy to the smog problem the doctors pointed out that their mask cost only 6£d, whereas industrial-type masks recommended by the Ministry cost. 2s 6d to 255. Chemists have reported a heavy demand for surgical gauze since the doctors’ warnings were published.

One newspaper recalled that the Government had great difficulty in persuading Londoners to carry their gas masks at the beginning of-the Second World War, as people considered them “silly.” If the freak weather conditions of last December are repeated this year and London’s smoke gets trapped under a stable blanket of warm air over the city, Londoners may yet abandon their reserve about the “silly” smog masks. Turf War Grows For the first time in its 203 years’ history, a ruling of the Jockey Club has been challenged by another racing authority. For years the Jockey Club’s stewards have been accepted as the supreme arbiters on racing matters; decisions and bans imposed by the club have been accepted without question by affiliated racing authorities in the English-speaking world. On October 5, the Jockejl Club’s stewards banned Paddy Prendergast, a leading Irish racehorse trainer, after an inquiry into the running of one of his horses, Blue Sail, which finished second in the Cornwallis Stakes at Ascot this month. The horse had previously been unplaced in two races in Ireland. The difference in the horse’s form was examined by the stewards, who told the trainer that he would be unable to enter any more horses in England. Normally this would mean that 4 Prendergast would be banned by affiliated bodies.

The Irish Turf Club, however, after a separate inquiry, cleared Prendergast, stating, that there was no unexplained discrepahcy in the running of the horse in Ireland and England. The Irish Club’s decision was forwarded to the Jockey Club, which carried a vote of confidence in the stewards who banned Prendergast. The split between the two racing bodies was maintained.

Prendergast has more than 80 horses in his stable at The Curragh and has 23 entries in the English classics next month, including Moonlight Express, a crack two-year-old which is already quoted as favoutite for next year’s Derby. If owners stand by the banned trainer there will be many quality horses missing from the racing calendar in England next year. Equipment on Gothic

No special . Royal plate or cutlery will be carried on the Gothic when the Queen trees it as a Royal yacht for the tour pf New Zealand and Australia. The ship’s plate, which was supplied by a Sheffield firm when the Gothic was launched in 1948, will be used by the Royal party. The plate has.been reburnished by the makers for the Royal tour. Electro-plate and cutlery supplied to ships are specially made for heavy wear and are of a (heavier metal than ordinary domestic! plate. Tea and coffee pots, jugs, and basins that the Queen will use will not be specially ornamented, but will be plain and solid in appearance. They will be used by travellers on the ship after the Gothic has completed her Royal voyages. w

Bath-night Barrage Complaints from “Thunder Town,” a collection of villages near London airport, that windows, slates, and tiles were being damaged by the noise of low-flying aircraft approaching to land at the airport were investigated per-

sonally by,the Minister of Civil Aviaation, Mr Lennox-Boyd, yesterday. On a tour of houses, he visited Mrs Ellen Cowdray, who related how, while she was having a bath, a giant aircraft roared, over her house and the tiles around her bath fell out »

Aviation experts are worried at the increasing number of complaints from residents near London airport. The airport is growing steadily, and when the control buildings are finished next year, Northolt airport which iS at present used by international airlines, wilLbe closed and its traffic switched to London airport Huge brick and concrete baffle-walls have been built to reduce the noise of engines being tested on the ground, but the authori-, ties cannot change the carefullyplanned approach paths which, lie over the “Thunder Towns.”

While civil aviation authorities are trying to find methods to reduce the noise from low-flying planes, Royal Air Force experts are worried about flocks-of birds flying round their aerodromes. A Canberra bomber which crashed and killed its crew of two at Exeter airport last week was seen to run into a flock of circling birds just before its engine caught fire, and it crashed. Sparrow-hawks and sirens have been tested to scare birds away from airfields, but no method has yet been wholly successful. Propellerdriveii aircraft are less affected, although the birds have been known to damage propeller blades and wings. With jet aircraft, the birds are sucked right into the turbines, and large birds can’ put engines out of action by damaging the turbine blades. At low heights these air collisions can be fatal to flyers. , Royal Film Playing safe after the storms of criticism raised last year when an American coloured confection called “Because Yoirire Mine” was shown at the Royal film performance, the film industry chose “Rob Roy” for its Royal film this week. Made by Walt Disney ip the Highlands, the film was received kindly by the critics, although some suggested that it was about time the industry chose an intelligent, adult film for the Queen to see. '“Roy Roy,” with an all-British cast, was described as a “.cowboys and Indians’ film in kilts,” and “just a jolly Highland fling” to take the children to during the Christmas holidays. The Queen’s reaction to her annual film outing *is not known, of course, but she probably enjoyed, the shots of the lovely Highland scenery of the Trossachs. Wrestler’s Difficulties

Jack Doyle, the Irish wrestler and singer, who is billed under the name of the “Gorgeous Gael,” followed the trail of unsuccessful financiers, businessmen, and shopkeepers into the bankruptcy court at Carey street this week. He told his examiner that his £3500 in debts was due to his big feet, his height, and natural extravagance.

Because of his big feet (size 13J), the wrestler has to have his shoes handmade at an average cost of £l7. His height (6ft 4in) meant that he had to have tailor-made suits which cost 40 guineas, while his heavy spending is necessary if he is to get work wrestling or singing on the stage. At present tne wrestler is singing in a stage show, but he hopes to make a comeback in the ring. The registrar told Doyle that if he handed over a quarter n his earnings to the Official Receiver he would take the payments into consideration when he applied for his discharge from bankruptcy.

Ice Cream “Bars” “Children’s bars” may’ be built on to some new public houses to satisfy the needs of young customers while their parents are in the ordinary bars if a suggestion of a licensed premises committee is accepted by brewers. The Crawley New Town committee, set up by the Ministry of Housing to review the town’s drinking needs, wants to prevent children sitting outside on streets corners or hanging around entrances to bars while their parents are drinking. The committee says the “kiddies’ bar” would sell ice cream and soft drinks. Special staff would look after the youngsters while their parents drank next door. Politician’s Television

A new luxury-model receiver which shows a picture three feet by four feet has been fitted into the members’ television room in the House of Commons, a Post Office spokesman announced this week. The receiver will operate continuously while programmes are being transmitted. A new seating arrangement in the room will allow 60 to 100 members to watch “when their Parliamentary duties permit.” According to members of both parties, which are pressing for a salary increase for members of Parliament, they do not have a moment’s spare time for relaxation while Parliament is sitting.