BAY OF PLENTY BEACON Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1950 WHY NOT BE COMFORTABLE ?

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 71, 19 July 1950, Page 4

BAY OF PLENTY BEACON Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1950 WHY NOT BE COMFORTABLE ?

In the past we New Zealanders have been prone to look on the comfort loving American as something of a weakling. Not for us any of the simple central heating plants he installs not only in his hotels and business premises but also in his homes. Not for us the enjoyable warmth that is characteristic of every room in the American building. - We have refused to adopt these ideas and for years have gone on shivering from winter to winter. At home we cling to the open fire and when sleep reluctantly drags us to the cold bedroom and then to the even colder sheets we take the hot water bottle and vainly attempt to extract some warmth before falling into shivering sleep. Perhaps if we realised that the hot water bottle was the cause of many chilblains, painful fruit of the winter, we might think twice before condemning the American and his love'for comfortable warmth.

Central heating is something that could well be introduced into the New Zealand home. One heating apparatus used to heat every room in the house to a comfortable temperature would surely do away with any shivering at home, chilblains and many colds. The question of expense may be a deterrent. Perhaps the first installation may be a cost not faced by the usual home builder but in the long run there must be a saving in fuel costs and electricity, for those people who are lucky enough to live in a district where they can use heaters.

Many hotels in New Zealand have found central heating a popular asset. The same can be said for a number of business buildings and how many supply adequate heating? What is the common source of heating in a Whakatane office? Either an oil burning stove or coal and wood fire. This method produces warmth but only for one room. People in another part of the buildings but how many supply fire too. This is the same of most homes.

What a waste in a country where fuel of every kind is scarce. Why not one fire for the whole building? Perhaps the .time will come when we won't be too proud to take a tip from our American friends. We may then even reach the stage where we too may be eating to keep alive instead of eating to keep warm. Why, the time may come when we may even be eating cold salads in a centrally heated room during the winter.