Sessional_Paper_1898 — Page 488

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Mr. EDE-You said just now that a room 30 feet in depth is quite sanitary if it has no ventilation or light at the other end and facing on a street that is 15 feet wide or more. Now, do you not think that light and air are absolutely necessary even in a 30-foot room?—I say they get light in a 30-foot deep room.

Where?-On the one side if they have a tenth of their floor area as window space. Do you think that is sufficient?—I do.

Hon. C. P. CHATER--Are there many rooms in European houses which have light only on one side and are 30-foot deep ?-Plenty of them; my own bedroom is lighted only on one side.

Mr. EDE-And only the same proportion of window area to floor space?-My room has more than 10 per cent. window area.

The CHAIRMAN--In regard to the question of cubicles, it has been suggested that cubicles should not exceed a height of 6 feet. What is your opinion in regard to that? -I consider that the Chinese would object very strongly to cubicles only 6 feet in height.

What height would you recommend them?-8 feet high as they are at present. That height was fixed as recently as Ordinance No. 15 of 1894. There were then three doctors on the Sanitary Board-Dr. HARTIGAN, Dr. Ho Kat, and Dr. AYRES--and after very careful consideration we decided that 8 feet was the best height and the lowest we could get them cut down to with regard to privacy.

You consider 6 feet too low as it would interfere with the privacy of the occupants? -I do.

You recommend 8 feet?--Yes, these cubicles have only just been cut down, only yesterday, you might say, every one has been cut down. To do it all over again would be outrageous. You have cut down every cubicle in the Colony during the last two years.

By order of the Sanitary Board?—Yes.

Are they satisfied with 8 feet?--Yes; the Chinese are satisfied with what they can get when they cannot get anything better.

Do they want the cubicles higher?--I think they are satisfied with 8 feet.

Mr. EDE-How does it affect the light in these cubicles? There may be sufficient air because you have 4 feet above the partitions, but how about the light? Do you think there is sufficient light for sanitary purposes ?-Cubicles shut out a vast amount of light.

Is it desirable to let in more light or is the light sufficient from a sanitary point of view?--I think it is sufficient for the health of the Chinese.

Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD--Then as regards streets of 15 feet in width, do you think cubicles should be allowed on all the floors of these houses?—Yes.

And in houses where the streets are less than 15 feet in width would cubicles to the upper floor?-Yes, I think perhaps you might do that.

you limit the

Only on the top floor?--If they faced a building of only one storey then I say you could have cubicles on the three floors.

The CHAIRMAN--Suppose, opposite the building was of the same height.—If it is a three-storied building then you could have cubicles on the two upper floors.

The top one and the next one?—Yes.

Do you think there would be sufficient light on the second floor?—I do.

Hon. C. P. CHATER--If cubicles were not allowed on the ground floor would it reduce the value of the property?-Certainly.