461
than when in the form of a backyard. We concur in the opinion expressed by Mr. LEIGH that existing houses above a certain depth can afford to give up a space which would be sufficient to form such back alleys.
11. There are no structural difficulties in carrying out our recommendations; it is true that the owner in many instances will have to sacrifice dwelling space, but we submit that if such entails loss on them, they are themselves to blame for overcrowding their property with buildings of an insanitary nature.
12. In some cases it will be found that the backs of houses in rear of which we recommend formation of laneways are not in alignment. In such cases we advise that the Government resume the property, and, after effecting the improvements recommended by us, sell it again.
CUBICLES.
13. We append the recommendations of the Commissioners and our own suggestions on the subject of cubicles. The first recommendation the Commissioners make on this subject is under the heading "Houses fronting on narrow lanes:"
RECOMMENDATIONS OF COMMISSIONERS.
Class B.--Houses fronting on narrow lanes.
Clause 7.--In houses fronting streets less than 15 feet in width, no cubicles should be allowed on the ground floors.
C. P. CHATER. T. JACKSON.
In houses fronting on narrow lanes less than 15 feet in which no cubicles should be allowed on any floor.
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART.
In houses fronting on narrow lanes less than 15 feet in width no cubicles whatever should be allowed on any floor, and in houses fronting on lanes and streets of over that width no cubicles should be allowed on the ground floor without the permission of the Sanitary Board.
T. H. WHITEHEAD. N. J. EDE.
Clause 12.--We consider that no cubicles should in future be permitted on any floor in any dwelling that has not a window or windows opening directly into the external air, of a total area of not less than one-tenth of the floor space.
Cubicles.
Clause 13.--In his examination the Medical Officer of Health referred to the question of cubicles and suggested their reduction from the present height of eight feet to six feet, but in this he is not supported by the other witnesses, the local architects being averse to any change as the present height was decided upon so recently as 1894. We, however, recommend that no cubicles of a greater height than seven feet unless the height of the room exceeds thirteen feet be permitted to be erected or re-erected hereafter in any domestic dwelling.
Addendum to Report.
We are further of opinion that no cubicles erected or to be re-erected in future shall be placed nearer than six feet to any window the area of which is included in calculating the required window area of one-tenth of the floor area.
T. H. WHITEHEAD. N. J. EDE.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF SANITARY BOARD.
In houses fronting streets less than 15 feet in width no cubicles should be allowed except on the top floor of each house.
No cubicles or partitions other than "shop-fronts" should be allowed on the ground floors of houses fronting streets of a greater width than 15 feet and such shop-fronts should, in no case, be permitted to exceed 8 feet in height. No cocklofts or cubicles whatever should be permitted in houses within the European District Reservation Area (Ordinance 16 of 1888), nor should any such be permitted to be erected in any kitchen.
That where one cubicle only exists in any room of a domestic building, the present height of eight feet be retained; that where two cubicles only exist, the height of each should not be permitted to exceed seven feet, and that where more than two cubicles exist, the height of each should not be permitted to exceed six feet.
That there should be a space of at least four inches between the lower edge of the partition walls and the floor, in all cubicles, and that no structure should be permitted to be erected within a cubicle which shall be of a greater height than the partition walls, as provided for in the foregoing paragraph, or which shall provide a cover or roof to the cubicle; and also that no cubicle should be permitted to be erected nearer than six feet to any window, the area of which is included in calculating the required window area of one-tenth of the floor area.
That no cubicle used for sleeping purposes should have a less floor area than 64 square feet. That the recommendation in Clause 12 of the Report be adopted and applied to every existing domestic dwelling in which cubicles are erected.
14. With regard to cubicles in houses fronting streets less than 15 feet in width, three of the Commissioners were in favour of not permitting any cubicles in any floor of such houses, while two recommended that in such houses cubicles should not be permitted on the ground floor.
We are of opinion that in such houses cubicles may be permitted on the top floor only of each house, and we are supported in our opinion by the evidence of Dr. CLARK (page 8) in which Mr. COOPE concurred, of Mr. DANDY (pp. 25 and 26), and of Mr. PALMER (page 40).
Mr. LEIGH was of opinion that in a 3-storied building opposite a building of the same height cubicles might be permitted on the two upper floors. It seems to us that the majority of the Commissioners were influenced in arriving at their conclusions regarding the permission of cubicles on floors of houses fronting streets less than 15 feet in width by the opinion expressed by Mr. LEIGH on page 35 that a house is either wholly a coolie (common lodging) house or a family house.
Such is not the case. We cannot call to mind a single house in the central part of Victoria, where the population is densest, which is entirely occupied on each floor as a common lodging-house.
We are of opinion that, as explained by Dr. CLARK in his evidence on page 8, the above recommendations in regard to cubicles in houses fronting streets less than 15 feet in width will not entail loss on property-owners.
15. With regard to cubicles in houses fronting streets more than 15 feet in width, two of the Commissioners were of opinion that cubicles should not be permitted on the ground floors without the permission of the Sanitary Board.
The witnesses who were examined on the point expressed the opinion that cubicles might be permitted in all the floors of houses fronting streets of a width of 15 feet and over, with the exception of Mr. DANDY whom we understand to say that he would not permit cubicles in a house of a depth exceeding 25' if unventilated at the back, or 30′ if so ventilated.
We endorse the recommendation of the two Commissioners, and we venture to record the opinion that there cannot be found in Victoria a ground floor divided up into cubicles, no matter what the width of the street in front of it, which can be said to be adequately lighted and ventilated. Our remark as to the height of "shop-fronts" on ground floors is in accordance with the existing provisions of the law (Ordinance 15 of 1894, section 8 (4)).
16. Our recommendation regarding the prohibition of cubicles and cocklofts in the European District Reservation Area is aimed at preventing the houses therein designed for European occupation being turned into tenement houses for Chinese by means of the objectionable system of sub-division by cubicles.
17. We attach very great importance to the recommendation made by the Medical Officer of Health at page 7 of the report to reduce the height of cubicles to 6 feet.
To meet any possible objections on the part of the richer Chinese we propose that on floors where only 1 cubicle is erected the present height of 8 feet be permitted, that where two cubicles are erected on one floor the height be 7 feet, but that when there are more than 2 cubicles the height be reduced to 6 feet.
We would point out that the space of 4 feet or more required by section 8 (b) of Ordinance 15 of 1894 could still be enclosed by wire netting or lattice work at least open between the top of the partitions and the ceiling or under side of the joists. This would prevent anyone looking over the 6 feet partitions as some of the witnesses examined by the Commissioners appeared to fear.
We would add that we have found that there are numbers of cubicles at present erected which are only an inch or two over 6 feet in height, and that numerous instances could be quoted of partitions which, owing to the lowness of ceilings, are made of open bamboo work throughout.
18. The recommendation contained in the Addendum to the Report signed by Messrs. EDE and WHITEHEAD is a most important one, and we strongly recommend its adoption.
At present in the large majority of floors on which there are cubicles, one of the windows in the front of the building, and in many cases the only window, is monopolised by the cubicle next to it to the exclusion of light and ventilation to the floor. The same is the case with any back window there may be.
We have added recommendations for a space of 4 inches to be left between the lower edges of cubicles and the floor, and to prevent cubicles being covered over or obstructed by erections within them. We find that cubicles are not infrequently covered over with boards, or have large four-posted bedsteads placed inside which overtop the partitions and are provided with wooden covers. Such structures interfere very much with the lighting and ventilation of the cubicles.
The proposal that no cubicle used for sleeping purposes should have a less floor area than 64 feet is aimed against overcrowding.
It is presumed that 2 persons at least occupy a cubicle. The floor area for each person is 30 square feet and we have allowed 4 square feet for obstructions inside the cubicle.
19. Before quitting the subject of cubicles we would observe that we regard them as one of the most objectionable features of the dwelling-houses of Chinese in this Colony.
They are not, as some seem to suppose, an adjunct of Chinese family life in China, but are essentially a contrivance to which the Chinese in this Colony have been driven by the excessive depth of the houses in Victoria and by the demand for house room.
In this connection we would refer to paragraph 146 of Mr. CHADWICK's report of the 18th July, 1882, in which he said "the type of house in Hongkong is quite different from that in use on the neighbouring mainland, and I am certain that the lower class population is more densely packed together in Hongkong and worse provided with appliances for cleanliness than they are in Canton.
"In Hongkong the average number of inhabitants per house is 16 whilst in Canton it does not exceed 9 or 10. In Canton over the whole city there is not on the average a complete upper storey. Second and third storeys are there unknown whilst they may be said to be the rule in Hongkong. In China also there is in the middle of the house a square space open to the sky (Tien Tsing, "heavenly Well") with a sunken floor which serves for ventilation and many other purposes. In some cases this court is covered in, but I have generally observed that there is abundant provision for ventilation on the north side of the house especially."
}
461
than when in the form of a backyard. We concur in the opinion expressed by Mr. LEIGH that existing houses above a certain depth can afford to give up a space which would be sufficient to form such back alleys.
11. There are no structural difficulties in carry ing out our recommendations; it is true that the owner in many instances will have to sacrifice dwelling space, but we subunit that if such entails loss on the they are themselves to blame for overcrowding their property with buildings of au insanitary nature. 12. In some cases it will be found that the backs of houses in rear of which we recommeul formation of laneways are not in alignment.
In such cases we advise that the Government resume the property, and, after effecting the improve ments recommended by us, sell it again.
CUBICLES.
13. We append the recommendations of the Commissioners and our own suggestions on the subjat of cubicles. The first recommendation the Commissioners make on this subject is under the heading "Houses fronting on narrow lanes: "--
RECOMMENDATIONS OF COMMISSIONERS. Class B.--Houses fronting on narrow lanes. Clause 7.-In houses fronting streets less than 15 feet in width, no cubicles should be allowed on the ground
floors.
C. P. CHATER. T. JACKSON.
In houses fronting on aarrow lanes less than 15 feet in which no enbielos should be allowed on any floor.
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART.
In houses fronting on narrow laues less than 15 feet in width no cubicles whatever should be allowed nu any floor, and in houses fronting on lanes and streets of over that width no cubicles should be allowed on the ground floor without the permission of the Sanitary Board.
T. H. WHITEHEAD. N. J. EDE.
Clause 12.--We consider that no cubicles should in
future be permitted on any floor in any dwelling that bas not a window or windows opening directly into the external air, of a total area of not less than one-tenth of the floor space.
Cubicles.
Clause 13.-In his examination the Medical Officer of Health referred to the question of cubiclos and suggested their reduction from the present height of eight feet to six feet, but in this he is not supported by the other witnesses, the local architects being averse to any change as the present height was decided upon so recently as 1894. We, however, recommend that no cubicles of a greater height than seven feet unless the height of the room exceeds thirteen feet be permitted to be erected or re-erected here- after in any domestic dwelling.
Addendum to Report.
We are further of opinion that no cubicles crected or to be re-erected in future shall be placed nearer than six fect to any window the area of which is included in calou- lating the required window area of oue-tenth of the floor
arer.
T. H. WHITEHEAD.
N. J. EDE.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF SANITARY BOARD,
In houses fronting streets less than 15 feet in with no cubicles should be allowed exceps on the top floor of each bouse.
No cubicles or partitions other than "shop-fronts" should be allowed on the ground floors of houses frosting. streets of a greater width than 15 feet and such shop-fronts: should, in no case, be permitted to exceed 8 feet in height, No cocklofts or cubicles whatever should be permitted in houses within the European District Reservation Ares, (Ordinance 16 of 1888), nor should any such be permitted to be erected in any kitchen.
That where one cubicle only exists in any room of a domestic building, the present height of eight feet he retained; that where two cubicles only exist, the height q cach should not be permitted to exceed seven fect, and thal where more than two cubicles exist, the height of each should not be permitted to excced six feet.
That there should be a space of at least four inches between the lower edge of the partition walls and f the flour, in all cubicles, and that no structure should be permitted to be erected within a cubicle which shall be of a greater height than the partition walls, as provided for ia the foregoing paragraph, or which shall provide a cover or roof to the cubicle; and also that no cubicle should be į permitted to be erected nearer than six feet to any winder,. the area of which is included in calenlating the required! window area of one-tenth of the floor area.
That no cubicle used for sleeping purposes should have
a less floor area than 64 square feet. That the reconset- dation in Clause 12 of the Report be adopted and applied to every existing domestic dwelling in which cubicles are erected.
14. With regard to cubicles in houses fronting streets less than 15 feet in width, three of the Cou missioners were in favour of not permitting any cubicles in any floor of such houses, while two recên- mended that in such houses cubicles should not be permitted on the ground floor.
We are of opinion that in such houses cubicles may be permitted on the top floor only of each house, and we are supported in our opinion by the evidence of Dr. CLARK (page 8) in which Mr. COOPE concurred, of Mr. DANDY (pp. 25 and 26), and of Mr. PALMER (page 40),
Mr. LEIGH was of opinion that in a 3-storied building opposite a building of the same height cubicles might be permitted on the two upper floors. It seems to us that the majority of the Commis sioners were influenced in arriving at their conclusions regarding the permission of cubicles on floors of houses frouting streets less than 15 feet in width by the opinion expressed by Mr. LEIGH on page 35 that a house is either wholly a coolie (common lodging) house or a family house.
Such is not the case. We cannot call to mind a single house in the central part of Victoria, where the population is densest, which is entirely occupied on each floor as a common lodging-house. We
of opinion that, as explained by Dr. CLARK in his evidenco on page 8, the above recommendations in regard to cubicles in houses fronting streats 1:35 than 15 feet in width will not entail loss on property-
winters.
15. With regard to cubicles in houses fronting streets more than 15 feet in width, two of the Commissioners were of opinion that cubicles should not be permitted on the ground floors without the permission of the Sanitary Board.
The witnesses who were examined on the point expressel the opinion that cubicles might be permit- tal in all the floors of houses fronting streets of a width of 15 feet and over, with the exception of Mr. DANRY whom we understand to say that he would not permit cubicles in a house of a depth exceeding 25' if unventilated at the back, or 30′ if so ventilated.
We endorse the recommendation of the two Commissioners, and we venture to record the opinion that there cannot be found in Victoria a ground floor divided up into cubicles, no matter what the width ohe street in front of it, which can be said to be adequately fighted and ventilated. Our remark as to the height of "shop-fronts" on ground floors is in accordance with the existing provisions of the law (Ordinance 15 of 1894, section 8 (4).
16. Our recommendation regarding the prohibition of cubicles and cock lofts in the European District Reservation Area is aimed at preventing the houses therein designed for European occupation being turned into tenement houses for Chinese by means of the objectionable system of sub-division by
cubicles.
17. We attach very great importance to the recommendation made by the Medical Officer of Health at page 7 of the report to reduce the height of cubicles to 6 feet.
To meet any possible objections on the part of the richer Chinese we propose that on floors where only 1 cubicle is erected the present height of 8 feet be permitted, that where two cubicles are erected on une floor the height be 7 fect, but that when there are more than 2 cubicles the height be reduced to 6 feet.
We would point out that the space of 4 feet or more required by section 8 (b) of Ordinance 15 of 1894 could still be enclosed by wire netting or lattice work at least open between the top of the partitions and the ceiling or under side of the joists. This would prevent any one looking over the 6 fer partitions as some of the witnesses examined by the Commissioners appeared to fear.
We would add that we have found that there are numbers of cubicles at present erected which are only an inch or two over 6 feet in height, and that numerous instances could be quoted of partitions which, pring to the lowness of ceilings, are made of open bamboo work throughout."
18. The recommendation contained in the Addendum to the Report sigued by Messrs. Ene and WHITEHEAD is a most important one, and we strongly recommend its adoption.
At present in the large majority of floors on which there are cubicles, one of the windows in the front of the building, and in many cases the only window, is monopolised by the cubicle next to it to the exclusion of light and ventilation to the floor. The same is the case with any back window there may be. We have added recommendations for a space of 4 inches to be left between the lower edges of cubicles and the floor, and to prevent cubicles being covered over or obstructed by erections within them. We find that cubicles are not infrequently covered over with boards, or have large four-posted bedsteads placed inside which overtop the partitious and are provided with wooden covers. Such structures interfere very much with the lighting and ventilation of the cubicles.
The proposal that no cubicle used for sleeping purposes should have a less floor area than 64 feet is aimed against overcrowding.
square
It is presumed that 2 persons at least occupy a cubicle. The floor area for cach person is 30 square feet and we have allowed 4 square feet for obstructious inside the cubicle.
19. Before quitting the subject of cubicles we would observe that we regard them as one of the
most objectionable features of the dwelling-houses of Chinese in this Colony.
R
They are not, as some seem to suppose, an adjunct of Chinese family life in China, but are essentially
& contrivance to which the Chinese in this Colony have been driven by the excessive depth of the houses in Victoria and by the demand for house room.
In this connection we would refer to paragraph 146 of Mr. CHADWICK's report of the 18th July, 1882, in which he said "the type of house in Hongkong is quite different from that in use on the neighbouring mainland, and l'ain certain that the lower class population is more densely packed together in Hongkong and worse provided with appliances for cleanliness that they are in Canton.
"In Hongkong the average number of inhabitants per house is 16 whilst in Cantou it does not exceed 9 or 10. In Canton over the whole city there is not on the average a complete upper storey. Second and third storeys are there unknown whilst they may be said to be the rule in Hongkong. In China also there is in the middle of the house a square space open to the sky (Tien Tsing, heavenly Well") with a sunken Hoor which serves for ventilation and many other purposes. In some cases this north side of the house especially." eurt is covered in, but I have generally observed that there is abundant provision for ventilation on the
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