Sessional_Paper_1898 — Page 461

(7)

་་

pay for it as to who is to do it. It is not a question now of resuming property, but how that property can be improved.

Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-In the meantime ?

Mr. EDE-No, permanently. If it is a question of putting a few windows in a house that is a different thing to having to pull down a part or the whole of a house. I would like to know if Dr. CLARK can tell us what improvements he suggests shall be carried out in those places we saw.

What are their nature?

WITNESS-I can do that; in fact, that is what I have prepared for to-day-to deal with the houses which we saw and to make what suggestions I can for their improve- ment; and those suggestions will practically apply to all the other houses in the Colony. First, in regard to cubicles. Ordinance 15 of 1894, section 8 (b), permits cubicles to be erected in dwellings with partition walls at a height of eight feet. I certainly think the members of the Commission who saw the cubicles the other day will admit that these cubicles, which are within the law, are extremely dark. One of my suggestions is that cubicles shall still be permitted, because I am afraid we cannot dispense with them altogether; of course, from a theoretical point of view cubicles are a mistake when we have houses with rooms 25 to 50 feet deep by 13 feet wide, but of course the Chinese want privacy. As far as I can see the Chinese must have these cubicles, but I am of opinion that the height of these cubicles should not exceed six feet. I have brought a six-foot measure just to show you that there is no fear of the ordinary Chinaman looking over a cubicle six feet in height. If he wants to look over he must get a stool and stand upon it, and he can do that just as easily with an eight-feet cubicle as he can with one of six feet. It will not diminish the privacy of these cubicles, which you must remember are only about 10 feat by 8 feet, or even less as a rule, but it will materially lessen the darkness. That is one of my suggestions for improving these dwellings.

Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-How do you think the Chinese would receive the alter- ations such as you have suggested?

WITNESS-I do not see that they can make any reasonable objection. If we were to cut the cubicle down to 5 feet or 4 feet I could understand that they would make a serious objection.

Have you had any conversation with any of the Chinese on the subject as to how they would view such an alteration?-No. We have had no difficulty in getting the cubicles cut down to 8 feet.

From what?-From right up to the ceiling.

Twelve or fourteen feet ?-Sometimes they were a foot or two from the ceiling, but frequently they went up to the ceiling,

There was no difficulty experienced in cutting them down ?—None whatever.

Mr. EDE-When was that done?

WITNESS-It has been done since 1894-under Ordinance 15 of 1894. I think it would make an enormous difference in the lighting of these cubicles. There is no question that they are pitch dark, at present, in many cases.

Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Is there any other remedy in addition?

WITNESS-Yes, several. That is my first suggestion. Now I come to the restriction that cubicles should be permitted only in rooms which have a window area kept clear and unobstructed of not less that one-tenth of the floor area and opening directly into the external air. That is a simple remedy and one that can be applied to every house, and it will make an enormous difference in the lighting of the premises.

Can you give us any idea as to what the cost of putting the window in the wall would be? Some have it in already and some have not. I cannot say what the cost