weight is borne on columns spaced at twelve feet intervals. Each floor of each wing consists of 9,000 square feet of open space divided by a staircase and a ramp in the centre, and with additional staircase access at each end of the wings. Each floor is divisible into units of 198 square feet the clear space between each of the bearing columns-and each of these units is the minimum area which can be allocated to any one concern. A verandah running round the building provides access to all units. The connecting link between the wings houses the communal latrines and wash rooms. The roof of each wing is used for drying space, part of which is covered over.
65. Rents vary from floor to floor, ranging from $75 a month for a ground floor unit to $45 a month for a unit on the top floor. The number of units allocated to a single concern depends on the working space it previously used in a squatter area; for example a factory formerly occupying 1,200 square feet would be allocated six units while one occupying 350 square feet would be allocated two units. The maximum allocation to any one factory has been set at ten units, and since it is intended to provide for small concerns only, any factory that occupied more than 2,000 square feet is not provided for.
66. After taking up accommodation in the factory the individual tenants have to provide their own partition walls and front walls facing onto the verandahs. The internal layout adopted by the tenant is subject to the approval of the Labour Department and the Fire Services Department and each concern has to make its own arrangements for the installation of water and electricity.
67. The design of the building, and the fact that a large number of concerns are accommodated close together, have made it necessary to exclude certain trades. These trades fall into four main categories: those that require more storage space than could be provided, for example timber yards and waste, or scrap metal, dealers; foundries, for which adequate ventilation cannot be provided; waste cotton refiners and bedding manufacturers, because of the obnoxious processes involved; and all food factories, since it is considered that the facilities available are not sufficient to provide hygienic accommodation for the processing of food.
68. Though a higher rent is charged for ground floor units their ease of access had made them very much more popular than those on the upper floors. Priority for these ground floor units is given to trades
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