SMOKE AND DUST

Evening Star, Issue 21254, 8 November 1932, Page 2

SMOKE AND DUST

ABATEMENT DESIRABLE BENEFITS OF NEW METHODS Tlio benefits to bo gained from the adoption of new methods of smoke and dust abatement in New Zealand cities were referred to at the last mooting of the Christchurch branch of the Now Zealand Town Planning Institute by 'the chairman (Mr A. R. Galbraith). Mr Galbraith said that New Zealand was fortunately placed with regal'd to air pollution in the towns, 'but that such a situation should only encourage people to endeavour, by the proper orientation of buildings and streets, to obtain the best conditions possible, Air Galbraith said that there could be no doubts about the benefits of fresh air and sunlight. Christchurch suffered from fogs, and any amelioration of the trouble would be of inestimable benefit to the city and its residents. One could get a very good indication of the nuisance in Christchurch by looking down on the city from the Cashmere Hills. Fog resulted from the condensation of moisture on dust or smoke, and. where there were no breezes, it settled on the low-lying land. ELIMINATION OF FOG. There were some more or less effective methods of dealing with the smoke nuisance, and the application of these improved the condition of the atmosphere in the elimination of fog. One palliative was to compel people to consume their own smoke by means of precipitation. Another recent invention had improved combustion in stoves and furnaces so much that little, if any smoke was ejected into the atmosphere. This method penetrated right to the root of the trouble. Another smoke eliminator, which had been used with great success, in England, could- be attached to factory chimneys and even to such vehicles as steam-rollers. The cost of this method was not at all prohibitive, and its use would probably become more general. Under such conditions it was not unreasonable to look forward in the not too distant future to smokeless cities. The improvements in road construction also were a big factor in the elimination of the dust nuisance. Concrete, bitumen, and tar-sealed roads would to a groat extent mitigate the trouble. In Christchurch, if domestic fires could bo done away with or the smoke eliminator method applied, there would be a great improvement in the atmospheric conditions. THE VALUE ®F SUNLIGHT. " Of late years there has been a great development in the theories of the therapeutic; value of sunlight, 1 continued Mr Galbraith. “ The benefits of sunlight have become so well established that it is regarded no longer as a fad. but as a necessity, particularly in connection with sanatoria and hospitals. Tile subject of the benefits of sunlight is of groat interest to all of us. There is nothing so depressing ns some of the narrow, chasm-like streets in our big modern cities.” Fortunately, Christchurch, _ owing to its flat configuration, was situated in particularly healthful surroundings. New Zealand also was fortunate in its situation, as the dominion was at least 1.200 miles away from the nearest mainland—Australia —and was surrounded by water. These conditions conduced to purity of atmosphere, although instances had been known of Australian dust storms penetrating even as far ns Ibis country. Traces of dust bad been reported on the mountain snow. Mr A. FI. Bridge said that Now Zealanders were a particularly healthful people—they had the lowest death-rate in the world—and that a cautions policy should ho followed in recommending and institutiifg new regulations. New Zealand conditions worn different from those in England, and the country was naturally developing along good lines.

Keep n largo knob of soda over the trap of your sink. then, as water rims through. some of the soda will dissolve and run through, thus helping to keep the pipe perfectly clear. And. after washing up anv greasy dishes, pour a kettieful of boiling water over a lump of soda plaeed over the trap. Do this and you will never sufier from a clogged sink.