NEW YORK’S CLAMOURS ATTACKED BY ANTI-NOISE SOCIETY

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6844, 23 February 1929, Page 5

NEW YORK’S CLAMOURS ATTACKED BY ANTI-NOISE SOCIETY

NEW YORK, Dec. 27. This city, which goes about its daily tasks to the obbligato of rattling elevated trains, the thundering of steel riveting hammers and the screeching of taxi horns, may become almost as quiet as anv village if the programme announced by the newly formed AntiNoise Society is carried out. The move to rid New York of its unnecessary and objectional noises was launched by Mrs. Annie E. Gray, secretary of the Woman’s Peace .Society, with the assistance of Mrs. Florence Hamilton, who has been named chairman of the nc-w group. One of the first things that will come to the attention of the listening ear of the Anti-Noise organisation is tho matter of sidewalk radios. Many stores operate loud radio receivers in such a way that they can be heard a block or more away.

Biit as the radio sots themselves are not on the street they are not subject to existing regulations. The AntiNoise Society intends to seek special legislation which will dc-al with vus problem.

Elimination of noises incident to building construction will be studied and members of tho society hope that electric welding may ultimately replace the pneumatic hammers now used to rivet the steel frames of New York’s skyscrapers.

Traffic noises also are to be studied. One of the first recommendations is the prevention of unnecessary use of automobile horns. Methods of making street cars operate more quietly likewise will be surveyed. But all the society’s attention will not be turned to “big noises.’’ The newspaper vendor who loudly shouts his wares on the street corner, the peanut peddler whose shrill whistle invades the quiet of residential neighbourhoods and the milkman, whose steeltyred delivery waggon disturbs the early morning hours, wil bo subjects for its study. The approach to the elimination of noise, Mi's. Gray said, will be made through the dual avenues of education in improved and quieter methods of doing things and special legislation which will give authorities control of the city’s'numerous noises.