Clean air action wanted

Press, 23 September 1980, Page 6

Clean air action wanted

The Canterbury United Council’s air pollution committee -• will start earlier this year to promote the availability of non-polluting fuels for space heaters in Christchurch.

“If we’start the dialogue now, we might get it sorted out- by February or March,” said the chairman of the committee (Cr Newton Dodge)., yesterday. Tlie''Minister of Energy (Mr> Birsi)jhas told, thfe committee..that ’ Southland’s bad weather/ early this year caused problems for Ohai mines, but he said that State Coal Mines, were aware of the Government’s , energy policy- arid., intended to do their best ;to supply fuels with a low sulphur, content. Dr N; J. Peet said that

one problem was the Government subsidisation of smoky West Coast coals from Greymouth and Reefton mines.

He realised the social need to support mining there, but social support at that end of the West Coast railway line should not “give us coughs and wheezes at the other end,” he said. “The clean coal seems to be at a disadvantage relative to the dirty coal," said Mr P. V. Neary, because the “clean” Ohai mine was the only one in the South Island to make a profit. “They (the Government) are prepared to heavily subsidise air pollution,” said Mr Neary, “which has been my constant cry for 15 years.” The committee said the United Council should con-

Sider co-ordinating an effort to bring all metropolitan councils under a clean air zone., if only to keep open fireplaces from being built in new homes.

“Local bodies should be talking to each other about how to achieve a uniform clean air zone.” said Mrs M. E. Murray. Committee members said the Government should be put under constant pressure to accept the argument that Christchurch had special problems which required lower electricity prices to encourage a move away from polluting fuels. “With high power costs?’ said Mr Neary, “the public were encouraged toward the attitude that they ‘can’t afford to bother about the environment.’ ”