THE NONSENSE OF NOISE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 1760, 27 May 1913, Page 6

THE NONSENSE OF NOISE.

SOUND ELIMINATION.

REFLECTIONS ON CLOCK CHIMES. [By Sylvius.] "It- was decided to write to tho Gitv Council submitting two proposals —that a chiuiiug clock bo installed at a cost of about .£1200; or that an electric clock bo fitted at a cost 01 about JUOO." Tin; above is an extract from the report of a meeting held °n Friday evening last in connection with a movement to fill the blind eyes of the Town Hall tower with clock faces, and its interior with tho mechanism necessary to tell oil tho passing hours. That two proposals have been submitted would seem to mdi•cate that there was a doubt as to which type of clock should bo erected in the coot-begrimed tower—an ordinary pendulum clock with /chimes, or a ehimcless electric clock. It appears to be a iair matter for argument, it tho people ol today thought as they did fifty or even twenty-fiva years ago. But to-day our thoughts are not those of a quarter 01 a century ago, neither aro oui' ways their ways- Tho modern tendency in all y.ellrculated cities is to, as far as possible, eliminate noise, in order to lessen the grand aggregate "song of the city. Poopi:; aro not prono to think how much or little they are affected by; the roar and clamour of a busy city tho rush 01 the traffic, tlio clangour of the cars, and their raucous-voiced gongs, the hissing ot escaping steam, the chattor of motor- , cars, the shrill blasts of tho factory whistles, the grinding of machinery, and the chiming of clocks. It all makes up what is known as "the din.. An nrticlo recently appeared in a New lork journal which sought to prove that the clamorous din of the city the or thing one is popularly supposed to get used to"—has a distinct influence on the nervous system, and is not an inconsidernblo factor in the many break-downs and sudden collapses of men who have to bo .in tho midst of the noise all day and every day. The friends of ono so affected are informed that it is a nervous break-down, brought on by over-work; though his intimates know that the sufferer's work was no more arduous than their own. It makes theni wonder when their turn is coming. The invariable treatment is cither a stay ill the countiy or a long sea voyage—and invariably tn» patient recovers. Why ? Doubtless the change of air and scene have a beneficial effect, bu.t in 80 per cent, of the, cases it is tlio absence of noise—the noise tnat unconsciously has been jarring the nervous system. Quiet almost invariably brings relief, and often restores perfect health.

Tho Example of Berlin. All this is. apropos of the question involved as to what stylo of town clock Wellington shall have. In Berlin the city authorities ore moving 111 the direction of dismantling all chimes from clocks within the city area, and even now there is a by-lav to prevent them chiming or striking at all during certain night hours. One cannot help sympathising with tho Berlin City Fathers in their efforts to eliminate all l'orms of disturbing sounds, among which clock chimes and strikes may bo included. It has been found ill many cities that a number of city clocks striking tho hour exactly at the same time—and to be strictly correct they should all striko together-is confusing and only makes for a medley of useless sound. . This sound elimination movement which is going oil all tho world over in cities vrhero it has become a nuisance, proves in a measure' that clock chimes arc rapidly gointf out of date, and tlint a quarter of a century hcnco they may bB as.dead as the curfew-bell in urban areas, science will no doubt insist on "silencers being affixed to all manner of machinery and motor vehicles, which aro at present permitted to make as much noise as they like. Clocks that chime and striko were invented to let blind people know tho time when house-clocks ana watches,were luxuries. When ono can purchase a reliable watch or clock for two half crotfiis and at a time when nearly; every'schoolboy boasts a watch, and tinv girls wear them ag bnuglo ornaments, the clangour of a big clocK every quarter of an hour is surely unnecessary.

The Dictates of Reason. To show how tho silent war against noiso is advancing it is not out of place to quote what has already been done to "blaze the track." At one time the various steamship companies used to consider it a sacrcd duty for their vessels to blow three long whistles before the steamer left tho wharf. Those interested would wait for the number of toots which woro given after each blast —one, two, or threo—to determine how near it was to tho time of departure. It seems almost comical to imagino what a hideous noise would be created now at certain times of tira day if the old-time custom were revived. With many other time-honoured practices, the city lirebell has become a memory. Host of us can remember how it used to peal out at night. Windows would bo tlirown up in all quarters ot tho city, and anxious cars would listen intontly for tho number of dongs, after the first long ring,, that would indicate in which ward of the city tho fire-fiend was at work. Now few know about a tire at all until they read the news in tho papers, and the firemen aro not iiampered in their work by crowds of spectators, as u c ed to bo tho case when the whole city wis alarmed at every call, however insignificant tho cause. The firebell has been superseded by a system of electric alarms —infinitely quicker and wore effective that tho look-out and the bell. Twenty rears ago eac'h factory in Wellington was provided with a powerful-lunged whistle, which used to "shriek" tho employees to work at 8 a.m. There are still factorywhistles, but they aro comparatively few in number. Clocks and time-books have rendered them unnecessary. On top of tho above arguments, the noisy clock is to cost .£I2OO, against tho quiet business-like electric clock at .MOO. Tlven outside of the question of cost—and tins is important-how will it bo possiblo to, hold concerts and choral performances hi either the Town Hall or the Concert Chamber if a great clock is to pipe its liv" every quarter of an hour? As an initial step towards the institution of compulsory quiet whero unnecessary noise now occurs, tho City Fathers and their Orphans should not have much hesitation in deciding in favour of a chimeless clock —if any.