Pollution Views Denied

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31763, 21 August 1968, Page 7

Pollution Views Denied

The New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation was “playing the Government’s game” in minimising the dangers of air pollution in Christchurch, it was claimed at the annual meeting of the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Clean Air Society.

Mr P. V. Neary, the vicepresident, objected to the statement made by the Minister of Health (Mr McKay) in the House of Representatives that air pollution was no problem in New Zealand, and that there had been no serious complaints about it.

On Mr Neary's motion, the following resolution was passed, to be sent to the Minister of Health, and to the Minister of Broadcasting (Mr Adams-Schneider): — “This society is concerned that the Minister of Health and officers of his department tend to minimise the dangers to health from the present high winter levels of air pollution in Christchurch. "We fear that the N.Z.B.C had broadcast talks by Dr H. B. Turbott and the chief chemicals inspector in which the known role of air pollution in bronchial diseases has been underestimated.

" The Listener.’ after publishing an article which underestimated the dangers of local air pollution, and also made use of a photograph with a misleading caption, did not publish our letter correcting the wrongful statement

“The society asks that it be supplied with copies of all scripts of broadcasts relating to air pollution, and be given a fair and proper opportunity of making public comment.” “We want a fair go,” said Mr Neary. ‘Though we are a small number, our members are important in politics, local government, and engineering. We have some

power In this city and country.” “This is tied up with politics,” said the president (Mr I. R. Densem). Because a Labour member of Parliament, Mr B. P. Mac Donnell, had introduced a clean air bill in 1967, the Government, having defeated it, could hardly Introduce a measure of its own. The Government’s case, he said, was that air pollution was no real problem, yet those who knew said that in Christchurch it was many times above the level that was safe, and knew the effects of it on health and property. The Government was committed to saying that there was no air poUution in New Zealand, and the N.Z.B.C. was toeing the party line, said Mr Densem. When a second clean air bill was introduced by Mr

Mac Donnell, Mr McKay said categorically that there was no air pollution, and no serious complaint about it. After this statement had been made, he had written to the Minister, told him of the decisions reached after a hurriedly-called meeting in Christchurch after a smog outbreak on June 10, and told him that a clean air bill was needed. Mrs E. M. Morrow said she had told Mr McKay of the position in Christchurch when she spoke to him at the National Party conference She had given him leaflets “I would like to invite him to the foot of Cashmere which is the worst place for pollution,” she said. “There’s something deadly in the Christchurch winter air,” said Mr Neary. “We must not let the Government get away with it”

Mr Densem said that the

United States criteria for air pollution by sulphur dioxide set 0.015 parts per million as the high limit before health was affected. The average of the six worst parts of Christchurch, on D.S.LR. readings, was 0.027 parts per million.