Conscious Of Air Pollution Problem

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31234, 5 December 1966, Page 16

Conscious Of Air Pollution Problem

(Heu> Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 4. The Health Department had been conscious for some years of the need to curb air pollution, the Chief Chemical Inspector for New Zealand (Mr R. T. Douglas) said today.

Air pollution, recognised as one of the country’s major dangers to public health, had been dealt with specifically in the Health Act since 1956, Mr Douglas said.

He was commenting on recent reports of concern over heavy smog in New York. “Although smog as heavy as that in New York could not happen here we should always be on our guard,” Mr Douglas said. Since 1956 all major industries and many smaller ones with a high pollution had been under scrutiny by the Health Department. Permission to establish certain industries could be withheld if they did not measure ur to the highest standards of pollution control.

Local authorities were becoming aware of the need for control measures beyond action on complaints about individual premises, Mr Douglas said. More than 60 local authorities had adopted smoke regulations introduced last year and aimed at reducing pollution from many sources. Twenty-four officers—eight from the Health Department ard 16 from local authorities —qualified at a recent Health Department course for smoke inspectors. Another course would begin in March. Mr Douglas said that New Zealand was favourably situated in that air mass movement minimised the effects of pollution. High topography and humidity in some parts of the country, however, meant that a large amount of air pollution was possible and had to be guarded against, he said. Motor vehicle exhausts were a growing problem, but New Zealand would benefit from improvements being made

; overseas in the internal com- - bustion engine. Overseas developments were being watched, but it was not yet necessary to Introduce , legislation making the fitting of air pollution suppressors on . vehicles compulsory, Mr . Douglas said.