J
366
Height of buildings in rural
listricts.
Concrete- blocks and bollow walls.
Thickness of short walls.
Thickours of wall in
Shanghai
as compared
with
Hongkong.
Materials for walls in rural districts.
'Workmen to occupy house
in course of construction.
Supply of skilled labour.
Effect of guilds
on labour.
Tribunal for
labour disputes.
14
* 74. We also recommend that the present restriction on the height of buildings in rural districts to 35 feet be removed, subject to the Building Authority retaining the right to object to the design or external appearance of the building (see letter (8) in Enclosure I, and evidence of Mr. Jackinau and Mr. White in Enclosures 8 (5) and (3) respectively).
* 75. In letter (3) in Enclosure 1, it is suggested that concrete-blocks with a hollow space in them, can be fitted together with much less labour than ordinary bricks, and the cheapness, dryness and coolness of hollow external walls are emphasized in letter (22) in the same enclosure. Upon this question of hollow walls, Mr. Jackman and Mr. White were of the opinion that there was no objection to such hollow walls, if they were properly sealed with cement-concrete. We recommend that the matter be carefully gone into by the Public Works Department.
* 76. In letter (8) in Enclosure 1, the suggestion is made that walls of short length and built in cement mortar may safely be of less thickness than is at present required by law. Mr. Jackman and Mr. White concurred in this view, which we support.
77. Mr. Lam Woo in his evidence (Enclosure 8 (2)) pointed out that in Shanghai a less thickness of wall is required than in Hongkong, but the Acting Director of Public Works seemed to think that severer condi- tions of wind and weather exist in Hongkong than in Shanghai, and conse- We concur in the latter quently the greater thickness was desirable here.
view.
78. It is suggested in letter (24) in Enclosure 1, that for one-storey and two-storey houses in rural districts a mixture of cement, line and decomposed granite might be allowed for walls; and Mr. White agreed, but added that, in such a case, proper supervision would be required during construction.
79. The question of allowing workmen to occupy the ground-floor of Chinese tenement-houses when the building is erected up to the second-floor, so as to speed up the building operation and save some rents, is dealt with in para. 24 (3).
80. The question of securing an adequate supply of skilled labour for the building trade is important, because it affects not only the building development of the Colony, but also the cost of buildings. In paras. 24 and 25 we have made recommendations with the view of obtaining a sufficient supply of such labourers by providing them with sufficient and cheap housing accommodation.
81. One of the most serious obstacles to the supply of labour appears to be the large entrance-fees demanded of new members by some of the local guilds, thus debarring newcomers from the country (see letter (10) in Enclosure 1). We may add that it is stated in letter (40) that labour obtain- ed from the guilds is considerably dearer than that from outside sources. The influence of guilds on the building development of the Colony is also referred to in letters (24) and (41).
* 82. We strongly urge the Government, in the interests of all branches of trade in this Colony, to pass a law for the reference to a strong and inde- pendent tribunal, with one representative of the employers and one represen- tative of the workmen as assessors, of all disputes in this Colony relating to wages to be paid to workmen, hours of employment, and holidays. Such a law is clearly desirable in the interests of workmen, no less than in those of employers, for it is of the utmost importance to the former to know that they have a definite tribunal to which they can appeal with the full certainty of their grievances being gone into without delay and without any cessation of wages such as is involved in a strike. In the course of his Report for the year 1922, the Secretary for Chinese Affairs remarks (at page 13): "The general strike was largely a matter of the intimidation of willing workers",
15
Mr. Hallifax advocates as a remedy the establishment of an Employers Federation; but while we agree that the formation of such a federation may be desirable, we think that au arbitration tribunal as recommended by us, should be established, and that a Judge of the Supreme Court should be given power to enforce the decisions of the tribunal,
* 83. It would seem desirable to establish a trade school to teach boys carpentry, masonry, and other branches of the building trade. The indus- trial school which, we understand, Sir Robert Ho Tung and several Chinese gentlemen are contemplating should prove an ideal institution for the purpose.
* 84. In letters (10) and (24) in Enclosure 1, it is suggested that the Government should grant permission to contractors to obtain stone, sand and earth from places as near as possible to the building works. We commend this suggestion to the consideration of the Government.
* 85. We recommend that local architects furnish their contractors with sufficiently detailed drawings of the work to be done, at as early a stage of the building work as possible, by which much time will be saved, and structural alterations will be obviated. In this connection we would call attention to letters (9) and (40) in Enclosure I, and to the evidence of Mr. L. G. Bird and Mr. Lam Woo in Enclosures 8 (6) and 8 (2) respectively.
* 86, Architects could also help contractors by advising them as to what amount of materials is required, and when they should be ordered and delivered (see letter (9) in Enclosure 1).
Training
boys in carpentry, den
Permission to obtain stone, Band and esrib.
Detailed drawings to
be furnished to contractors early.
Advice to contractors
payment of contractors.
* 87. It is also our opinion that, if contractors are paid more promptly, Prompt the cost of building contracts will appreciably be reduced, (see letter (9) para. 10, in Enclosure 1). A fair allowance should also be made to contractors for materials on the ground.-(Ibid. See, too, letter (30) ).
* 88. In letter (9) in Enclosure 1, it is stated that unnecessarily heavy security is required from contractors by persons building houses, with the result that contractors have to provide for this item in preparing their tenders. Mr. Lam Woo also complained that securities are required from contractors when permits are issued to them for erecting scaffoldings, mat- sheds, etc.; and as this would tie up a great deal of money, which a small contractor can ill afford to have so employed, the cost of building is indirectly increased by reason of the fact that such contractors have, to protect themselves by making their tenders higher. Mr. White informed us in his evidence that the system of security was introduced in order to exercise a better control over the contractors; but, in view of the existing high cost of building, we advise that, instead of requiring the con- tractors to put up securities in such cases, a prosecution should be instituted against any contractor who commits an offence.
89. In letters (10), (24), (30), (35) and (10) iu Enclosure 1, the greater employment of labour-saving machines or devices is advocated as being the means of minimising the cost of buildings. The appliances, etc., mentioned in these letters are--
Pneumatic Rock-Drills. Mechanical Stone-Crushers.
Rock-Cutting Machines.
Concrete Mixers.
Electrically-driven Portable Wood-Workers.
Floor-Planing and Sanding Machines.
Steam Pile-Drivers.
* There is no doubt that a wider use of such appliances will have the desired result in the case of big undertakings, and that the use of the first three in quarries would save much time and labour. In letter (30) it is stated that gravel-crushers effect a saving of at least 30%.
Securities required f
contractors.
Labour-saving appliances.
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