COAL
R,-1 wish to make a few observations on ra. 6 of Mr. John Fox's letter on coal uly 9). Let me take it point by point.
(1) How many domestic consumers can ord consideration of their own comfort in omestic heating ? One uses as little of any fuel as possible, less in the national interest than in an attempt to live within one's means. My coal merchant assures me that the price of the better grades of coal is to be raised in November, while the price of the lower grades will fall, so we shall all be economis- ing still further and doubtless feeling colder, either through a shortage of what will titun or a sufficiency of what will not. How many households already use no fire until late afternoon for reasons of economy ? Surely • one is not expecting too much in wishing for a good tire in the evenings.
(2) We are constantly being told that modern solid fuel appliances burn half the amount required by an open grate and give greater comfort, but surely this is relative ? It must depend on how many hours the open grate was used, how large a room it heated, and whether a fire-back boiler was used with the grate. I have never seen any figures to prove these claims for all-night-burning fires, Which I suppose are what Mr. Fox had in mind, and having experienced the ' comforts ' of one I should take a lot of convincing. In my opinion the popularity. of such grates is entirely due to their ability to remain in all night, with the consequent saving of time and labour, to say nothing of mess, in the morning, and their ability to burn the poor Coal that we so often have to take. If one like's a cheerful fire, it is necessary to build ft up well, much as one must do with an open grate, so where is the saving ? I have nothing but praise for modern solid fuel cookers, they really are economical if one can afford the initial outlay.
(3) How are local authorities to ensure that their tenants use fuel efficiently, unless they inspect all houses for the purpose ? I understand that some authorities do supply Slow-burning grates on easy terms but, even so, there aee those who stoke carefully and those who do not, and what more could the authority do but give advice to those who asked for it ? In this city there has recently been made a much-needed smokeless zone, in which householders must burn coke or Other smokeless fuel. Already there are bitter complaints about the cost of coke, and
as it seems likely to go on rising, the com- plaints will doubtless go on also. No doubt these householders would like to know the relative efficiency of coal and coke, price for price, though even then I doubt if they would appreciate their coke fire as much as they used to like a coal one. But I do not wish to discuss smoke abatement at present, it is another matter.
(4) I entirely agree with Mr. Fox's insis- tence on adequate insulation, but I have yet to see it in any new house. It would seem impossible to achieve in council housing with- out adding to the cost and consequently to the rents, but a start might be made by hav- ing better-fitting windows and doors, and by siting the houses to catch as much sunlight as possible. We are very hidebound in our ideas—why should. some kitchens have to face north while the little-used ' best room' gets all the sun '?- And what has become of the district heating schemes that were talked of at one time ? Dundee had a most efficient one, and one would have thought that similar schemes might have been incorporated into new housing areas. Perhaps Mr. Fox can tell us if the additional cost on rents would have amounted to more than the price of a bag of coal.
(5) Gas may have a high coal economy efficiency as opposed to electricity, but both are prohibitive in price for the average house- hold for regular use. I am using 'average' to describe households where the total income for the family is £800 or less.
I think the householder—in practice the housewife—bears far too heavy a share of the burden of fuel economy. She can do her shopping in overheated shops, she can pay her fuel bills in offices that blaze, with light and radiate heat, then she can go home to a tiny fire and hardly any coal in the cellar. Nor has she any hope for the future, since every other fuel user seems to be before her in the queue. Must we go out to work in order to be warm in winter ?—Yours faithfully,
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