SMOKE TROUBLE IN CHRISTCHURCH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 10 June 1927, Page 7

SMOKE TROUBLE IN CHRISTCHURCH

EFFECT ON UFAI/nr (By Teleivr.ioil Sjjeriol to “Tho Mail I ' CHRIiSTCHURUH, 9.1 b dune. Much of (}<e special susceptibility oi Uhr mLcliufeh Ut Iwug an J 1.br0.i.1 Utrlbles would dk?appovr if tlio smoke from the municipal dosimeter and lactones ami from railway locomotives were eliminated. Sucl'i is the opinion of medical men, one of whom, a specialist in lung (roubles, informed a reporter that lie considered the smoko problem to be tho most important question affecting ( lirisiclnircli. Even in (be purely residential parts of tlio city the iiousowite knows to her sorrow the elTecle of the outpouring of smoke, from the destructor chimney. When there is lug or mist the smoke is held to Iho obvious detriment of health. ‘‘Undoubtedly the lungs collect portions of the soot distributed over the city, which makes them more liable to disease," said a medical man. " I low has a hearing on tuberculosis. The smoke interferes with the sunlight, and dniiriisbed sunlight predisposes to chest diseases.” Effective measures could be employed in preventing the outpouring of smoke. One method carried out in England and America is to pass the fumes over the furnace, the smoke actually being burned. Men in a position to speak with knowledge were emphatic in conversation with the reporter that something should lie done towards solving the problem in Cbristclim-cli. They pointed out that the low-lying terrain of ("hristcliureh intensified the smoke problem here more than in oilier cities in the Dominion. There may, however, be some relief ih fur,lie, the Oily Council having been in touch with the Health Department on l.lie subject. The question involves some research work, and the department is making inquiries from America and England on methods employed. A special difficulty in the Dominion is that most of tlio New Zealand coals make a good ; deal of smoke.