Air pollution

Press, 16 July 1980, Page 22

Air pollution

Sir, — The Clean Air

Society has repeatedly offered a solution, to past and present .governments, of how air pollution can be reduced in Christchurch, i.e. by reducing electricity charges (at least during the . winter months) and by subsidising the purchase and installation of solid fuel space heaters. Mr Gair, the Minister of Health, now announces that: “The Government simply does not have the resources to solve Christchurch’s pollution problems by. such methods.” It is not possible to measure pain and death in economic terms, as apart from the hospitalisation of sufferers of respiratory complaints there is that multitude; 1 of “silent sufferers” . who wheeze and cough their way through each winter and in addition have to suffer loss; of pay (or time) and the inconvenience of queuing up in a doctor’s surgery each month in search of relief from - the induced or - aggra-vated-results of air pollution. .—Yours, etc., • v .- -•' ‘ ; JOHN J. FORSTER... July 10, 1980. .

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