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The question of overcrowding in houses in the City of Victoria was investigated after an enquiry lasting for 2 years. They proved that overcrowding did exist, to a limited extent in the City of Victoria, this overcrowding amounting to the fact that 117 persons occupied the space legally allowable to 100 persons. It must be remembered, however, that this number refers to the gross measurements of the rooms and not to the actual clear space as demanded by the Ordinance. They add in their report that if the space occupied by staircases, furniture, fittings, partitions of cubicles, &c., is deducted to arrive at the clear space demanded by the Health Ordinance, then the overcrowding is large.
Since then, steps have been taken to stop overcrowding in Opium divans and in matsheds. New bylaws for the sanitary maintenance and for the prevention of overcrowding in Opium divans came into force in April, 1898. Similarly, a number of regulations providing, amongst other things, for the prevention of overcrowding in matsheds were approved by the Board and adopted by the Governor in Council, and came into force in 1897.
I have no doubt that overcrowding does exist in many of the Chinese dwellings in the City, but owing to the numerous means of exit from Chinese dwelling-houses, it is extremely difficult, except with the assistance of several persons, to prevent escapes and to obtain the necessary evidence on which to prosecute.
The method of procedure for the abatement of this nuisance under the existing law is cumbersome and almost impracticable. An amendment of the Ordinance whereby the Board should have powers to abate this nuisance by some more simple and speedy procedure would be a great advantage.