COSTLY REMEDIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21264, 19 February 1931, Page 5

COSTLY REMEDIES.

TO THE EDITOB. Sib, —A paragraph in your local news to-day refers to the apparent nuisance caused by smoke and smut from the local engine sheds and of the activities of the local Expansion League and City Council to try to get it stopped. Residents of this area know quite well that the engine sheds have been there for quite a number of years and new householders in that area were quite aware of their proximity to the engine sheds when they built or bought their houses there. With no intention of being antagonistic to any progressive move or improvement for the betterment of our city or its suburbs, I do maintain that, where any costly change is requested by any section of the community, that section desiring the non-essential should contribute towards the cost. Referring to the engine shed nuisance, I may mention that I have observed, on certain occasions, a certain amount of smoke coming from the sheds and locomotives, but nothing greater than the smell and smoke that emanates from our city Gasworks. As my route to the city takes me past both places four times each day, my comparisons taken over a long period are quite on the mark.

I understand that to eliminate the smoke from the engine sheds thoroughly a fairly expensive smokeless fuel has to be- railed here from Canterbury and, in comparison with the raw coal now used, this smokeless fuel is too expensive a luxury for our railways to use. If’ the Railway Department under new management begins to accumulate a surplus of funds the time for non-essential experiments, though costly, may be opportune, but in view of the financial position at present, it is impossible. Would it not be • sound advice, and good economics to request the City Council to collect a special rate from the Kensington residents and pay it over to the railways working account to" defray the added cost this department has to incur to please a handful of ratepayers? Then, again, let us hope none of these residents are financially interested m selling the unfortunate Railways Department this more expensive fuel.. In conclusion, I would like to state that, the Hillside Workshops, have eliminated smoke, but at what cost. 1 honestly consider that costly changes to the non-essential, though cloaked under the heading of progressiveness, should not be made a heavier burden on the community,' when carried out, than before. — I am, etc., Economist.