185 (189)
1
2134,6
or returned for revision in time to come up at the following meeting. In the case of (1), notification of approval of plans is usually obtained within three days of the meeting. In the case of (2), within three days of the second meeting. My experience has been gained in various localities, including the old Metropolitan Board of Works, the London County Council, City Engineer's Office, Liverpool, West Ham Borough Council, Reading Borough Council, East Ham Local Board, Leyton Local Board, Barking Local Board, and many others. I was Acting Surveyor to the Barking Local Board. The Surveyor being ill for a long time, they appointed me in his absence.
Q. Would plans be examined and passed quicker?
A. Yes. The present system of sending part of the plans to the Building Authority, and part to the Sanitary Board, increases the number of drawings to be examined, and takes up time in conveying plans from Building Authority to Sanitary Board and vice
versa.
124 to 128.-Q.-What is about the average time here, between sending in plans for approval of Building Authority and Sanitary Board, and the receipt of permit to proceed?
A.-It is impossible to make an average. The time varies from 12 days to six months. We are still without acknowledgment of plans sent in on March 10th, 1906. See also my reply to printed question, No. 3, dated July 23rd, 1905. That reply gives specific dates and instances.
Q. What is your experience as regards the time for so doing, in England ?
A.—I have put in plans at West Ham, and got them passed next day, also I have had to wait a month owing to special points. I should say a reasonable time to allow would be one week.
Q. Do you think the appointment of an Executive Engineer, and a Medical Officer of Health, as Advisers to the Sanitary Board, would be an improvement in the general administration of the Ordinance ?
A. Yes. I suggest that plans should be considered by au Authority composed of four official and six unofficial Members, with a non-technical Chairman, and advised by non- voting experts in Law, Medicine, and Engineering.
The Chairman.-Law ?
A. There are many legal points that arise.
Mr. Shelton Hooper. With regard to the concreting of floors here, from your exper- ience in the Colony, do you think any improvement can be suggested in the specification of flooring that should be impervious to damp?
A. Yes.
Q-What would you suggest?
A. I would suggest that cement concrete of a low grade be substituted for lime con- crete, and that a standard specification be set up for that.
Q. If that were adopted, what thickness of cement concrete ?
A-Four inches.
Q. And could you state briefly the component parts?