TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19634, 22 July 1935, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Gentian Anti-Noise Effort. With the thoroughness that characterises everything this nation undertakes, Germany has been carrying through an anti-noise campaign, which holds out hopes for the future of human nerves in general, writes the Berlin correspondent of the London Observer. German physicist, adopting the new unit “plion” for acoustic stand- ' ards of measurements are now prepared to establish that GO phons of sound is all that the average ear is willing to bear without damage iti (he nervous system. Their delicate instruments have already recorded that while rattling doors and windows do not as a rule exceed an average of 50 plums, doo:s that are banged and slammed, cause 75 plums of noise and an altercation between two excitable women, never under (55. While all possible sources of annoyance to the ear-drums are being examined and classified, energetic, steps arc being taken by various official bureaux working in collaboration lo stop all unnecessary noise, not only in the streets, but in factories works us well. The police and the physicists have worked hand in hand In note the numbers of motor-cyclists and the drivers of motor-lorries who do (lie most damage to the nerves of pedestrians in I lie si reels, Imt the “Beauty of Labour" board, the “prevention of <l image” department of the. Public Welfare Board, and the NationalSocinlist Association nf'German Technicians, arc evolving plans by means of which l lie nerves of working men will suffer less during their hours of employment.