Govt ‘neglects pollution’

Press, 27 February 1980, Page 6

Govt ‘neglects pollution’

Christchurch’s air-pollu-tion problems are giveh low priority by the Government, according to the president: of the Christchurch branch. ■■ of the New Zealand Clean Air Society (Mr P. V. Neary). • Mr Neary told a public meeting attended by eight people that Christchurch had a special case for concessions in domestic power charges. “Historical restrictions” had prevented the city’s developing South Island hydro-elec-tric power for its own use, he said.

Christchurch also had an atmospheric inversion problem that “sandwiched” a layer of smoke over the city during winter nights, he said. Mr Neary suggested that the Government give the

people of Christchurch a concession on peak rates to ease the problem of waterheating cuts. He said that the cuts annoyed many people and caused reversion to heating domestic water by wet-back i fires and stoves. He was also critical of the provisions of the Clean Air Act regarding closed stoves. Attempts to reduce smoke by increasing the burning efficiency of solid fuel stoves had created a fume pollution problem' that could become nation-wide, Mr Neary said. Many people had bought solid-fuel appliances and reports showed that when they were used at low levels of heat output, such as for heating domestic water, fume pol-

lution was caused at breathing level in neighbouring downwind properties. Mr Neary suggested that the defects could be caused by inadequate design, poor installation, incorrect use of fuel, or unsatisfactory factory operation.

“The society must try to publicise these reported defects in solid-fuel appliances in the hope that the Clean Air Council will take action to remedy the problems,” Mr Neary said. The meeting decided to express its dissatisfaction with the Clean Air Act to the. Minister of Health (Mr Gair) and to propose additions and alterations to the act for consideration by the Clean Air Council.