Anger at fire-free confusion

Press, 16 July 1987, Page 9

Anger at fire-free confusion

Recent revelations that elderly Christchurch residents were “freezing” because of confusion about fire-free days has been criticised as a “balatant attempt to knock the Canterbury United Council.” Members of the council’s air pollution committee yesterday retaliated against claims by a United councillor and the Christchurch City Council that "large numbers of people” were totally confused about the council’s campaign to stop air pollution and were “freezing” under the misunderstanding that open fires had been banned.

Both Mrs Margaret Murray, the United Council’s chairman, and Mr Patrick Neary, labelled the statements gross exaggerations and an “opportunity to knock the council.” Mrs Murray told the committee the statements were based on factless information. At yesterday’s meeting she refused to name the councillor who made the allegation. The matter was first made public at the last United Council meeting by one of its councillors, a City Council appointee, Cr Alex Clark, and at a re-

cent City Council meeting it was said that the United Council’s campaign lacked effective publicity for elderly people. It also outlined that of about 2000 homes in Christchurch heated by open fires only 360 were occupied by people aged over 60. The City Council’s reaction was tempered by Cr Charles Manning’s statement that it was easy to become emotive about old people shivering beside empty fireplaces. Nevertheless, the City Council’s community adviser, Mr Alistair Graham, said that many people

were “totally confused about this campaign.” Cr Clark said he had been told of several old people who had not lit their fires because they believed they were disallowed. Mr Neary said such claims were “gross exaggerations” . and there would be “one in 10,000 people that would be frightened into going cold because of local body directives.” The United Council has emphasised that fire-free days are voluntary and is publicising the details in a newspaper delivered to the elderly.