CO129-553-4 Proposed appointment of Housing Commission to investigate congested areas 18-1-1935 - 4-9-1935 — Page 15

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the Sanitary Board and Chairman of the Board of Directors

of the Yeung Wo Private Hospital. Hr. G.G. Wood is a partner

in Messrs. Leigh & Orange, one of the leading firms of

architects in the Colony. The Secretary, Mr. W.H. Owen,

is an Architect in the Public Works Department, and

recently passed the examination for the Royal Institute

of British Architects' Diploma for Town Planning.

3.

The Commissioners have only just commenced

their labours and I shall forward their report as soon as

it is received. The existence of serious overcrowding

in the older parts of the City of Victoria has constituted

a hitherto insoluble problem in this Colony for very many

years, largely owing to the expense of expropriation and

rebuilding, and the difficulty of rehousing the working

classes in areas close enough to their work to avoid

excessive cost of transport. It is understood that in

recent years similar problems in England have been tackled

with some measure of success, and I should be glad to

receive any publications in connection with slum clearance

and rehousing of the working classes, which you may consider would assist the Commissioners in their enquiries.

ļ

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble servant,

6.D. Southor.

Officer Administering the Goverment.