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There is nothing; it is absolutely closed. Do you consider a room 30 feet in depth and with only an opening here [pointing] and nothing here whatever; do you consider that sanitary ?-I say it is not necessarily insanitary.
The CHAIRMAN About the question of latrines, Mr. PALMER; do you consider there is a want of public latrines here ?—Decidedly.
Would you be in favour of the Government erecting latrines and maintaining them? -I think it is better that the Government should control them.
Not private owners?—There is really no actual provision in any of these Chinese houses for latrines; either the kitchen or the yard is used.
Are you acquainted with the present latrines? Are they satisfactory or other- wise?—I think most of them are conducted in a fairly satisfactory manner.
In regard to cubicles not to be permitted except on the top floors of houses fronting on streets less than 15 feet wide; what is your opinion about that? Would you simply allow them on the top floor?--I think in that case it would certainly do away to a very great extent with the family dwellings that are at present on the lower floors.
But from a sanitary point of view?--It would be better not to have them.
Do you think it would be sanitary to have them on the top floors?--It would depend upon the depth. I do not think that a cubicle in a room 30 feet in depth would make the room insanitary; but some of the rooms 50 or 60 feet might be insanitary.
You would be inclined to modify the suggestion that cubicles be permitted only on the top floors; you would allow them on all the floors ?--Yes, I think so.
Mr. EDE-Do you consider that light is as important as air for sanitary purposes? -Light is of course an essential thing with air, but air is of more importance. In the case of these cubicles they are absolutely dark; there is no light possible.
Do you consider they are sanitary if there is no light ?—I do not know that these cubicles are occupied very much in the day time.
The fact of getting light into a place makes a vast difference?-As far as health goes it would be a good thing.
This concluded the examination of the witness.
The Commission then adjourned sine die.
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