6 MARCH 1926, Page 14

The Spectator has always championed the cause of Smoke Abatement.

Although the number of people who have installed gas and electric heating in their houses is steadily growing, there remain tens of thousands of coal fires in London that might be abolished. A corres- pondent living in a' large block of flats tells me of his vain attempts to do away with coal. The management was reluctant to instal electric fires. He learned the reason when lie was informed by one of the staff that a Substantial profit was made on every coal scuttle sold to tenants. Let us hope that Mr.- Neville Chamberlain in his new Bill will deal with the domestic hearth. The Government, however, sets a bad example, as anyone can see who wanders down Whitehall and counts the number of chimneys belching forth smoke.