‘Pollution problems will increase’

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33869, 14 June 1975, Page 7

‘Pollution problems will increase’

Ihe ultimate increase in the price of electricity, after the decision by the Christchurch City Council to transfer $497,803 from the Municipal Electricity Department for Queen Elizabeth II Park, would tend to j increase our air pollution problems, said the j secretary of the Christchurch branch of the I Clean Air Society (Mr P, V. Neary).

Our pollution was already! 10 times above World Health! Organisation suggested levels.; he said. Those with respiratory; problems would suffer, for: they would be paying a greater proportion with their.;

[health instead of mere! umoney. than those who were! • well and not yet worried with) air pollution, he said. A mar[iginal increase in air pollu-l !tion resulted in much more! [ distress for those with breath- i ling handicaps. . Just because it had always! I been normal to cut back on! public health and preventa- 1 ;tive medicine in times of economic stress, it did not make. I sense in our time. 1975. Was this imposition on clean energy an indication! that the City Council only [Oaid lin service to reducing! air pollution within its boun-l idaries? Mr Neary asked. “With a central Government that has continually, [subsidised polluting fuels on; (to the Christchurch domestic! 'market, we begin to think! that we play a secondary, [role of being a temporary! solution of the problems of ' (the West Coast.” he said. ! If the smokev fuels were ' (subsidised, why should the;( ["lean fuels continually have!: jto pay. Excepting for the last!; I few months, electricity had I always paid its own way and. 1 [when price control was re-; |'axed, it surely would again.!! Ihe said. ( Unless local government [ 1 land central government ’ ! ffiowed they meant business; [ : n tackling air pollution prob- ■' Hems in Christchurch, thep public would continue to be [apathetic. This might welL 1 | suit those in control now. but i s jit could well boomerang back!: on those in authority in a! 1 ! few years, as the true serious-!' loess of the problem was re-i< I s ealed by better measurement H 'technique, he said. U