CO129-348 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [7-10] — Page 42

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