THE SMOKE NUISANCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21266, 21 February 1931, Page 22

THE SMOKE NUISANCE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir. —I was surprised to see the letter signed “Economist” in your paper yesterday morning. A better name for your correspondent would be “ Stingy.” I have read of people being so mean as to refuse to give children sufficient food, but it is the first time I have heard of anyone denying them fresh air on the plea of “ economy.” Mr H. D. Bedford used to say that there was only one form of wealth and that was life. The conditions under which the children of Kensington and vicinity live is deplorable. The young people playing on the Oval are continually in a bath of smoke. We go to great expense building our fresh air schools and sanatoriums for the prevention and cure of disease, and yet we have one of our schools where the children, whether inside or outside, are being simply suffocated. When Mr Taverner was Minister of Railways the nuisance ceased, and we thought the United Party was showing some consideration for the welfare of the people, but now it is evidently a case of money every time. The Government has not only reduced wages, but is showing no consideration whatever for the health of the people. Fancy talking ceremony where the health of the people is concerned! I cannot understand why our local doctors do not move in the matter. They should consider themselves responsible for the health of the community. If this nuisance existed at Roslyn or Anderson’s Bay or in the vicinity of Knox Church it would have been stopped long ago. Ministers of religion, too, should interest themselves in a matter like this. The trouble seems to be that, as the district is composed of comparatively poor people, they can look after themselves, thus bearing out the old saying that “There is one law for the rich and another for the poor.” Why does the member for Dunedin Central not do something in the matter? I think we are paying too big a price for representation by the Speaker. I strongly object to “Economist’s” statement that those residents who object to this nuisance are financially interested in selling smokeless fuel to the Railways Department. A person who makes such a suggestion as this must have a very callous mind and cannot understand anyone trying to benefit his neighbours who are not so fortunate as himself. I think you are to be congratulated on the photograph of the yacht race in this morning’s paper. Our fair city of Dunedin, which should provide'a fitting background for our beautiful harbour, is hidden behind a dense screen of smoke--and this on a clear summer day. If this does not wake our authorities up, nothing will. —I am, etc., J. P. Dunedin, February 20.