Sessional_Paper_1898 — Page 459

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Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Yes.

The CHAIRMAX-Can that be done?

WITNESS-Yes, but I am afraid it will take two or three months.

Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I would suggest that the statement should appear in the proceedings; as it would serve a useful purpose to have that containing the houses in each respective district?

WITNESS-Ob, yes.

Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-We shall, I understand, deal with this matter in the way of districts. We cannot take all the districts at once so it would be better to deal with each district.

WITNESS-Would you like that list for the whole Colony or for the City of Victoria? I could get it for the City of Victoria much easier than for the whole of the Colony. The Police do the work in the villages and-

Hon. T. II. WHITEHEAD-The villages are not of so much importance as the City.

Mr. JACKSON—We decided at our meeting to take district by district and I think we should make an exhaustive report of the districts we visited the other day and finish with them.

The CHAIRMAN—Yes, I suggest that we go on with those districts.

Mr. JACKSON-I think we should first find how many of the four classes men- tioned in that report are included in the districts we visited the other day.

Hon. T. H. WHITEREAD-Which were the districts ?

WITNESS-Nos. 5 and 6.

Mr. JACKSON-If this Commission is going to do any good it will not be in pointing out that the place is in a bad condition but in remedying that condition.

Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Remedying it, yes, that's it.

The CHAIRMAN-We might take Districts 5 and 6 and report on the houses in those two districts which come within the classes mentioned in the report.

Mr. JACKSON-All of which are distinctly objectionable as habitable dwellings. Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-They are practically in an insanitary condition and ought to be remedied.

The CHAIRMAN--In regard to the houses in the districts visited by the Commission I understand that the Commissioners would like to ask the Medical Officer of Health some questions.

Mr. JACKSON—Is it your opinion, Dr. CLARK, that all the houses we visited the other day are insanitary and ought to be remedied?

WITNESS-It is.

Are there any other houses in that district? I suppose we only saw a fair specimen ?--You simply saw samples, yes.

Mr. JACKSON The last time we met here we said that above all things we ought to avoid a repetition of the mistakes made in connection with Taipingshan and not report without being prepared with a scheme for the future. For instance, if we decide that certain of the houses are insanitary they ought to be taken in hand and dealt with- the properties resumed or the defects remedied, and we ought to deal with them finally and fully before we submit our report. My own opinion is that all the houses I went into are not fit for human habitation, and it is the duty of the Government to remedy that