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able for the purpose of putting in a ten-foot backyard; the alterations I have suggested will not render the dwellings even temporarily uninhabitable.
Not even by dealing with blocks of 10 or 15 houses at a time ?—That would spread the work over fifty years again.
The CHAIRMAN-What will be the result of your suggestions if carried out ?-The existing houses will be rendered reasonably habitable, and then if the other suggestions are carried out with regard to buildings erected in the future we shall be quite sure of having sanitary houses in the future, whereas now there is very little to prevent them from being as insanitary ten years hence as they are now.
Mr. JACKSON-How can that be remedied?
The CHAIRMAN-By the suggestions Dr. CLARK has just made.
Mr. JACKSON-It is not retrospective but prospective legislation; it only refers to anything done after the date of the passing of the Act.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD>—That is a question for the Sanitary Board to urge upon the Government.
WITNESS-All these things have been dealt with by the Board and the Board understands that the Commission will consider them.
The CHAIRMAN-I think we might now adjourn in order to consider the weighty suggestions which have been made by Dr. CLARK.
The Commissioners then adjourned sine die.
The Commissioners met at the Council Chamber at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday,
March 31st, 1897.
Present:---Hon, J. H. STEWART Lockhart, (Colonial Secretary), Chairman.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD.
Mr. N. J. EDE.
Mr. T. JACKSON.
Mr. A. SETH, (Secretary).
Absent: Hon. C. P. CHATER.
Hon. F. A. COOPER, Director of Public Works, was called and examined.
The CHAIRMAN-Gentlemen, we have asked Mr. COOPER to attend the meeting to-day in order that we may have the advantage of hearing his evidence. Mr. Cooper, you are Director of Public Works?
WITNESS-I am.
You have read the Commission that was published in the Government Gazette a short time ago?--I have.
As Mr. COOPER will be leaving the Colony soon, I think it will be well to obtain his views generally on the question of the resumption of insanitary properties. What are your views generally, based on the experience you have had in connection with the resumption of insanitary properties in this Colony?
Mr. JACKSON-Yes, generally; up to the present we have done specific localities. The CHAIRMAN-Quite so; generally.