THE SMOKE NUISANCE. Must the People Suffer ?

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 201, 7 May 1904, Page 6

THE SMOKE NUISANCE. Must the People Suffer ?

WE confess that our sympathies go out to the people of in ewtown m their efforts to protect themselves from the smoke nuisance It .is about the mostthickly populated part of Wellington, and the residents have cheerfully submitted to a great many drawbacks m making their homes there And it does 1 seem hard, after bearing the heat and burden of the day so long, and after striving to make their surroundings cheerful by raising httle plots of garden about their habitations, that great chimneystacks should be built m their midst to continually belch forth volumes of dense smoke to defile and befoul everything withm reach. • • * They have appealed to the Health Department, through its official head, against the proposed erection of two brick-kilns in their midst. Dr. Mason is well-disposed, but helpless He says that smoke is a very great factor in producing ill-health, but can do nothing until it is proved that a nuisance actually exists. The people have carried their protest X) the City Council, but have got mighty little satisfaction. That body was m its usual condition — "we dunno w ere we are" — and it was hopeless to expect a lead from the Mayor Councillor Godber asked him if the Council had power to grant or refuse permission. His Worship answered yes, but has since been overwhelmed m doubt, and :s now understood to ue of the opinion the permits must be granted It is a case of "Yes-No" once more * * * The matter was remitted to the Public Woiks Committee. It graciously permitted the reporters to b ; present while the Newtown deput.'ition was being heard But it cleared them out and closed the doors when it proceeded to deliberate That is the way in. which the city fathers trust the people. It is understood they have decided to recommend the granting of the permits, but mum's the word. T t would be a calamity to let either press or public hear what went on behind those closed doors ♦ • • The Wellington people have only themselves to blame for this most objectionable state of affairs Look at that poll the other day Authority was asked of the ratepayers to raise a further loan of £75,000. Out of 7000 electors just 700— or one in ten — took the trouble to record their votes In view of such culpable indifference, it is no wonder the City Council treats the burgesses as if they were its menials, and not its masters ♦ • * On this smoke question the last word has bv no means been said The health and comfort of the people at large is the first consideration Pri-

vate interests, however powerful, cannot be allowed to endanger the health of thousands of people. The public good must prevail. If these brick-kilns cannot consume their own smoke, and can be shown to be a public nuisance and detrimental to health, they must shift elsewhere. If the City Council is powerless, then Parliament must be appealed to for adequate means of protection. The air the people are forced to breathe must not be polluted with impunity. Health before dollais every time