Bacon, Eggs And Smuts

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31760, 17 August 1968, Page 14

Bacon, Eggs And Smuts

Smoke “in excess of what is permitted” was being produced from the chimney at Murphy Brothers’ brick and drainpipe works in Centaurus Road, but nothing could be done about it under the Smoke Regulations for seven years, a meeting of residents was told on Thursday evening.

Mr C. G. Roberts, the Heathcote County Council's health inspector, told the meeting that he was appointed smoke inspector 10 days ago. The meeting, which was convened by the Clean Air Society, unanimously agreed on a resolution calling on the Heathcote County Council and the Christchurch City Council to make an investigation of smoke from the brickworks and bring down a report on conditions in the area.

Its resolution said that atmospheric conditions in the area were unsatisfactory for a residential neighbourhood

and that industrial dust and smoke were causing a major inconvenience to residents.

Residents complained of “soots as big as snowflakes,” clay dust filling the air like a thick fog, smuts sailing in windows on to the morning bacon and eggs, layers of soot on window-sills and walls, and washing so soiled by soot that four extra washes would not clean it

Mr P. V. Neary, publicity officer of the Clean Air Society, said Murphy Brothers had declined to send a representative to the meeting. Residents criticised this, saying that it showed how little the company cared about their problem. Mr Roberts said that nothing at all could be done at present. After 12 months some restrictions could be imposed, “but there nothing much we can do.” He said he had been discussing the matter with the company for the last 12 months. “I have seen new underfeed stokers go in,” he said, “and quite honestly I’m convinced that they are trying to do a good job." Mr Roberts said he visited the brickworks about twice a week and always found the management co-operative. He said a representative of the Mines Department had been there that morning “crawling around on his hands and knees trying to find a fault” Earlier, Mr Neary had told the meeting that it was not suggested that the works could be moved, but he was sure that steps could be taken to reduce the “effluent, dust and muck.” He had been told that the company had spent $5OOO recently on automatic stoking equipment, but he felt the residents should insist that the kilns be fired with coal of low sulphur content Mr H. Smith said be had complained to the Heathcote County chairman, Mr C. D. Le Comte. “Every time I ring him he says: ‘Yes, I used to

go to school with you,’ but the old school tie doesn't help me much. The council appears inactive, and it will remain so.” One woman said she had telephoned the manager about soot coming in her windows. “He said: ‘lt’s your fault for building here—that’s what he told me, the manager," she said.