M 39
By inter-departmental arrangements the Medical Officer of Health scrutinises the plans of new buildings, but there is nothing in the law which says that this must be so.
The following list shows some of the work done during the year by the Buildings Branch of the P.W.D.
Nature of Work No. of cases 1. Obstructions removed from open spaces 137 2. Obstructions to light and ventilation removed 1,346 3. Rat runs filled in 654 4. Water closets installed in private buildings 1,240 5. Houses demolished (domestic) 147 6. Houses demolished (non-domestic) 8 7. Houses erected (domestic) 658 8. Houses erected (non-domestic) 15The city of Victoria is over-housed and over-populated. There is no space to build further houses and the only possible improvement is in the direction of the substitution of unsatisfactory houses by those of model construction. A great deal has already been done by the Building Authority but much still remains to be accomplished. The task is a difficult one and is complicated by the fact that Victoria is the centre of attraction for the stream of immigrants entering the Colony from China. The people must have accommodation and the demolition of each house means an increase of concentration elsewhere; the same applies to eating houses and common lodging houses.
One satisfactory feature of the situation is that many of the lots are short and the buildings do not exceed 40 feet in length, and ventilation and lighting is therefore a simpler problem than would be the case were the houses 120 feet deep as occurs so often in towns in Malaya.
The following plan shows the dimensions of a modern house and the arrangement of the cubicles. Provided there be sufficient space in front and behind in the way of street and back lanes, and provided the occupants co-operate and keep the building clean and well ventilated there is no reason why the occupants should not live a healthy life.
M 39
By inter-departmental arrangements the Medical Officer of Health scrutinises the plans of new buildings, but there is nothing in the law which says that this must be so.
The following list shows some of the work done during the year by the buildings branch of the P.W.D.
Nature of Work.
1. Obstructions removed from open spaces
No. of cases. 137
2. Obstructions to light and ventilation removed. 1,346
3. Rat runs filled in
654
4. Water closets installed in private buildings ... 1,240
5. Houses demolished (domestic)
6. Houses demolished (non-domestic)
7. Houses erected (domestic)
8. Houses erected (non-domestic)
147
8
658
15
The city of Victoria is over-housed and over-populated. There is no space to build further houses and the only possible improvement is in the direction of the substitution of unsatis- factory houses by those of model construction. A great deal has already been done by the Building Authority but much still remains to be accomplished. The task is a difficult one and is complicated by the fact that Victoria is the centre of attraction for the stream of immigrants entering the Colony from China. The people must have accommodation and the demolition of each house means an increase of concentration elsewhere; the same applies to eating houses and common lodg- ing houses.
One satisfactory feature of the situation is that many of the lots are short and the buildings do not exceed 40 feet in length, and ventilation and lighting is therefore a simpler problem than would be the case were the houses 120 feet deep as occurs so often in towns in Malaya.
The following plan shows the dimensions of a modern house and the arrangement of the cubicles. Provided there be suffi- cient space in front and behind in the way of street and back lanes, and provided the occupants co-operate and keep the build- ing clean and well ventilated there is no reason why the occupants should not live a healthy life.
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