1
evidence, calls attention to such properties in Hillier Street, &c. Should resumption become necessary in any of the cases indicated, the areas affected will probably be small, and the expenditure required could, no doubt, be easily met out of ordinary revenue. We have to recommend that the Ordinance enabling the Government to resume insanitary properties should be amended in the sense of the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, in force in England so as to allow of deductions being made on account of illegal rents, insanitary conditious, &c., &c. when assessing compensation. Any such resump- tions as may be necessary, and some will be, if the Colony is to be put in a thoroughly sanitary condition, can be carried out so that there will be no need for any extensive removals of the inhabitants, and therefore the question of housing the displaced population hardly arises. We are of opinion, as to the great majority of insanitary dwellings, that they can be rendered fairly sanitary and fit for habitation by the enforcement of the follow- ing recommendations, as the principal defects in the existing buildings arise from want of adequate light and ventilation.
Class A. Back-to-back Houses.
6. Where these houses have each a greater total depth than 26 feet from front to back one-half of the entire space intervening between the principal rooms and the enclosing walls at the back of the premises on each floor should be open to the sky, severe penalties should be inflicted on any one closing or allowing said space to be closed and the Magistrate should have full power to order the prompt removal of the obstructions.
Where in back-to-back houses over 26 feet in depth there is now no space between the principal rooms and the enclosing walls at the back of the premises the land-owner should be compelled by law to so alter the construction of his house as to provide for an open space at the back of not less than 40 square feet.
Wherever there is now, or wherever there is to be constructed under the recom- mendations contained herein, an open space at the back of any house, a window not less than one-thirtieth of the floor area must be opened into it from the back of the main room.
These regulations should not apply to houses situate at the corner of two main streets. and adequately lighted from two sides.
Class B. Houses fronting on narrow lanes.
7. In houses fronting streets less than 15 feet in width, no cubicles should be allowed on the ground floors.
Class C. Houses with insufficient open space in the rear.
8. One-half of the entire space intervening between the principal rooms and the enclosing walls at the back of the premises on each floor should be open to the sky such space not to be less than forty square feet in any case.
Class D. Houses abutting on the hill-side.
9. One-half of the entire space intervening between the principal rooms and the hill- side against which the premises abut should be open to the sky such space not to be less than forty square feet in any case.
10. We are of opinion that the provisions of Section 9 of Ordinance No. 15 of 1894 are sufficient for the purposes of abating overcrowding.
11. We are of opinion that immediate effect should be given to these recommenda- tions by legislation.
12. We consider that no cubicles should, in future, be permitted on any floor in any dwelling that has not a window or windows opening directly into the external air of a total area of not less than one-tenth of the floor space.
13. In his examination the Medical Officer of Health referred to the question of cubicles and suggested their reduction from the present height of eight feet to