‘ACTION NEEDED’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31238, 9 December 1966, Page 18

‘ACTION NEEDED’

Pollution In Air The lack of an effective Health Department policy on air pollution in Christchurch was indicated by the increase in pollution caused by the large quantities of West Coast briquettes being burned in domestic and other fires, and by the increasing amounts of high-sulphur-content liquid and solid fuels also being burnt, the president of the Christchurch Clean Air Society (Mr I. R. Densem) said last evening. A clear statement from the department on its air pollution policy would be welcomed by the society, which would also welcome any constructive moves bV the department to alleviate the problem in Christchurch, he said. “The society welcomes the recent statement by the chief chemical inspector of the Health Department (Mr R. T. Douglas) that *the department has been conscious for some years of the need to curb air pollution.’ “Mr Douglas’s work is appreciated by the society, hut we feel that the department itself has shown a sad lack of action in coming to grips with the problem. “Although there are about 5000 cases of bronchitis in Christchurch each winter, and the economic loss is £1 million a year, the department is relatively inactive,” Mr Densem said.