Clean Air

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32235, 2 March 1970, Page 12

Clean Air

Sir,—“A. B. Cedarian" schedules air pollutants but does not reduce the level of pollution by. criticising Regional Planning Authority figures. His knowledge of geography and Christchurch s winter air temperature inversion does not Shake my faith in" the experts on the R.P.A.’s air pollution committee. Bovs object to washing their necks] jiist as ratepayers dislike having to spend $3O a year on! cleaning off sooty products from their houses and furnishings. When Dr Potts diagnosed chimney sweep’s cancer lin .the eighteenth century it was known that coal, soot, and smoke were cancer-pro-ducing. Industrial bath-houses are thus an essential feature of.some undertakings, and all countries are trying to reduce smoke loadings for health reasons. London is now a cleaner city and if “A. B. Cedarian” persuades people to act on the recent “Clean Air” advice of the council there will also be a big improvement in Christchurch. — 'Yours, etc.. PATRICK NEARY. February 28, 1970. Sir,—lf the Clean Air Committee intends to separate my; economical wood-burning when fireplace and water-heat-i ing incinerator from my usual Icomfort and economy, then it

is timely to nip these purists’ ; plans in the bud, for they are too far-fetched. They cannot legislate against accidental fires, nor smokers, poisons, .etc. Soon it might be illegal, even to strike a match. Just how stupid can persons be-: |come and where will the point ]of demarcation be? My open [fireplace, the blazing comfort [and companionship of which .cannot be supplanted by any lof the more expensive appli'ances and fuels, is my necesjsity, and my wood supplies are almost costless. Now old and too tired to continue fighting against the bulldozing methods of council action. I .want to see others start a [public resistance movement ‘before we become forced to surrender our natural rights to the whims of a few counicillors.—Yours, etc.. G. J. WATSON. February 27, 1970.