THE HOUSEHOLD FUEL AND LIGHTING .ORDER. [To ins EDITOR or
THE "tilesarsma."] Sur,—The interesting letter by "A. M." which you publish in your number of September 7th under the heading "The Household Fuel and Lighting Order" contains a piece of criticism against the English rationing method for zeal which is not, I think, warranted by facts. The " scientific formula" or "scientific analysis," which is used in America and boasted of, is, as eery handbook on heating and ventilation shows, likely to give results always in a certain ratio to the space to be heated and to the minimum exterior temperature of the air. As the temperature in England is, on an average, not very different from place to place, the second disturbing factor in the formula disappears and spec* remains the only one.
Of course, the French rationing way is more economical, and compels rich people living in large houses to discontinue during winter the use of part of them. But the Italian one is far more economical than the French—no coal is allowed, and heavy Penal- ties are provided for use of coal for heating houses or establish- ments. Consequently people are compelled to go back to wood. As one ton of coal, good English coal,,has a heating value of more than four tons of such wood, the price of heat equivalent to one ton of coal is anywhere between thirty and forty pounds sterling. It " regulates " automatically consumption; and 'HOD Id niapilate it even if it were not scarce as well as dear.
I do not know if the dearth is really due to the " minerlelove for little work and much pay," and am rather inclined to dielielieve it; but certainly the circulation, either by the authorities or by Employers' or Miners' Associations, of accurate descriptions of what sufferings the coal shortage brings to Allied peoples would not go amiss amongst the genenous British labourers.—I am, Sir, SALVATI. Via Lamarmora 41, Torino, September 15th.
Previous page
