472 b
36
(h) It is probable that salt-water flushing is desirable for the low-level sewers. This is, however, a question, upon which I must reserve my opinion, pending further investigation.
(i) The materials and appliances now used for house-sewers are of in- different quality. Pipes should be inspected and tested at a depôt, before use.
A supply of standard goods should be imported. (j) The whole Drainage system requires careful reform. All unnecessary
covered Drains should be abolished.
(k) To avoid division of authority, bringing about to some extent the evils described under (c), it is desirable that the maintenance, that is, cleansing and flushing of the Sewerage System and Drainage System be transferred from the Public Works Department, which has a miserably insufficient staff, to that department of the Sanitary Board, which has the supervision of the scavenging (the Medical Officer of Health.) Under the expression Drain I mean and include all storm- water channels and nullahs whether covered or open, within the urban area.
(1) The transfer of the maintenance of sewers and drains from the Public Works Department to the Sanitary Board will not necessitate any material augmentation of the staff.
(m) New work and structural alterations in connection with sewers and drains, should be carried out by the Public Works Department, as heretofore.
(n) Scavenging is efficiently performed, saving as regards the matter
referred to under (1.).
(0) As regards surface crowding and insanitary dwellings, the state of the
town is rather worse than it was twenty years ago.
(p) No amount of external sanitation will absolutely avoid the recur- rence of epidemics, so long as a large proportion of the dwellings are insanitary and over-crowded.
(9) To improve insanitary dwellings extensive resumption and re-con-
struction will be necessary.
(") Resumption and re-construction cannot be remunerative, so long as
full market prices are paid for insanitary property.
(s) If on new areas, only sanitary buildings are to be erected, the value of
the land will be decreased.
(t) The Public Works staff is much undermanned in every branch, both
technical and clerical.
I have the honour to be,
The Hon. The COLONIAL SECRETARY.
Sir,
Your obedient Servant.
OSBERT CHADWICK,
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