with
23273/07
41
was,
as explained in the Colonial Secretary's printed
minute of 12th. April, 1907, mooted when Ordinance No. 1
of 1903 became law, but was subsequently abandoned.
Re-construction of blocks of
tenement houses on some such lines appears indeed to be
the only method by which the objectionable windowless
cubicle can be got rid of; and a provision was accordingly
inserted in the Bill giving effect to the recommendation
in paragraph 9 of the Committee's report, whereby the
whole cost of the improvement ultimately fell upon the
owners of the adjoining houses. In this form the scheme
proved un-acceptable to property owners and Un-official
Members. It was urged that the financial burden imposed
upon the owners of adjoining houses would be unduly heavy,
and that the possibility of any particular property being
so treated would depreciate its value in the market and as
security for mortgage.
A calculation, copy enclosed with
plan explanatory of the scheme, made by the Director of
Public Works of the financial effect of applying the
scheme to some typical houses in the City, showed it would
only repay the outlay under the most favourable circum-
-stances. In that calculation no allowance was made for
compensation
Enclosure 9