Sessional_Paper_1898 — Page 483

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Where no backyard exists, or where the rear of the premises abuts on a lane of a less width than 6 feet, is it necessary that open space should be provided by opening out not less than one-half of the kitchen in the rear of the premises?—I do not agree with that; I assume that that is the back of the houses.

The Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD repeated the question.-Yes, I do agree with that; that is, the back houses.

The CHAIRMAN-You think that legislation should be introduced to give effect to that?--Yes. The Public Works Department have been dealing with a great number of these cases, where you ask the Government for permission to put up a verandah. The Government ask you to make these openings and if you will do it the owners will get permission to put up iron balconies, and it makes a wonderful difference to the houses.

You are in favour of making it compulsory ?-Yes.

Mr. EDE-What do you say about the balconies ?-Suppose you want to put up a little balcony the Government will give you permission if it is a new house on condition that you make a yard like this at the back, the yard being half the width of the house, There is no power to compel it, but it is a concession on the part of the Government.

Mr. JACKSON-You think that would be a good thing?-I am sure of it.

The CHAIRMAN Do you think that legislation should be introduced to make it compulsory?—I do; it would not be a very great hardship upon the owners because it would be simply taking some old doors away.

Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-And making the dwellings sanitary?—Yes.

In back to back houses, where no open space exists in the rear of the buildings, should an open space be formed by opening out not less than one half of the entire space intervening between the principal rooms and the enclosing walls in the rear of the property?—No, I do not agree with that.

How would you propose to obtain that open space?-I think you would find that these areas would be quite sufficient.

Mr. EDE-Which areas-back to back houses ?—Those where the kitchen is cut-

Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-My last question related to back to back houses where no open space exists in the rear. How would you propose to make an open space?- That is what we have referred to.

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The CHAIRMAN--By opening out half the kitchen? Yes. [Describing with a pencil.] We will say that is one house and that is another. I would keep these two kitchens together there, and so instead of getting one ares say about 6 or 8 feet wide here and another small one there I should make them into one area and leave openings on each floor. You would get an area at least equal to the width of one house. The two kitchens would come together so that the air would circulate not only in the small vertical hole but through the yard.

That is in back to back houses ?—Yes.

Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-The question I asked you some little time ago was not in connection with back to back houses, but in connection with houses where no back- yard exists, or where the rear of the premises abuts on a lane of a less width than 6 feet.

The CHAIRMAN-That refers to backyards.

Hon. T. H. WRITEHEAD-Not necessarily. A house may abut on a lane of a less width than 6 feet and it is necessary that there should be some open space.