CO129-460 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1920 [1-4] — Page 152

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COPY.

Hon. Colonial Secretary,

151

The difficulty to which the Secretary of State undoubtedly refers arises from the definition of a "New Building"

(Vide S.6 8.8.39 of the P.H. B.O.).

2.

Unless an existing building is...............-"altered to

"such an extent as to necessitate the re-construction of the whole

"of any two of its main walls or the removal of the roof and the

"re-construction of at least one half of auch of any two of its

"main walls, whether at the same time or by instalments at different

"times, ------ it does not become a "new building" and therefore

escapes compliance with the provisions relating to "new buildings".

3.

The definition of a "new building" was amended in

1908 (the existing P.H. & B.O. was passed on the 21st February,

1903), in order to secure the inclusion under it of buildings

which would otherwise have escaped, but it is still possible, in many

cuses, to evade inclusion under it by leaving some small scrap of a

wall or of the roof standing.

4.

Though there are many cases in which old buildings

have been replaced by "new build inge" under the existing law, it

appears impossible to devise any definition of o practicable nature

which would secure, within any reasonable period, the universal

substitution of new buildings for those existing at the time the

present Ordinance came into force. This is especially the case mere omers apparently deliberately lay themselves out to avoid the

inclusion of their buildings under the definition "new building".

5.

In this connection, there arises not only the

question of obtaining the erection of buildings of a smitary type,

but also the question of the safety of the tenants. Many of the older buildings in the Colony, more particularly, in the City of Victoria, have been very badly built; both the materials and the workmanship being of a very inferior description. No action to secure their demolition can however be taken until such buildings became dangerous and, in many such cases, the notice served under

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