Air pollution

Press, 24 August 1977, Page 20

Air pollution

Sir, — Cr John Burn quotes me as writing “elderly reactionaries with coal fires”; but I said: “Both Labour and National are scared of the elderly reactionaries who insist on polluting Christchurch with open coal fires.” “Insist” implies that reactionaries in this case are those who are aware of smoke pollution, yet continue to bum coal on open fires and to use their influence to delay real clean air zoning. Cr Burn also omits the word “open”; those who install “approved” coal-burning appliances are s’lpnorting the concept of clean air zoning. A typical reactionary against clean air proposals is a person fond of the radiant heat and traditional aspects of the open coal fire and who refuses to care about or acknowledge the smoke pollution it causes. He would also be unconcerned about the wastage of non-renewable coal reserves and the problems of the shortages for a future generation. — Yours, etc., PATRICK NEARY. August 20, 1977.