Sessional_Paper_1902 — Page 567

471

33

SCAVENGING AND REMOVAL OF EXCRETA.

of scaveng-

96. The Scavenging of the City is carried on, under the direct supervision of Organization the Medical Officer of Health, and is now performed in a far more complete and ing depart efficient manner, than in times past. Formerly there were Depôts for dry-refuse, ment. scattered about the town, in rather insufficient numbers. Householders were supposed to cause their dry-refuse to be conveyed to these depôts, which were, from time to time, emptied by a Contractor who removed the rubbish in boats. As the distances to the Depôts were, in many cases, great, the inhabitants, not unnaturally, did not do so completely, but either stored it in back-yards, stuffed it down the sewers, or got rid of it, in some irregular manner. As the dry-refuse is worthless, the Contractor had no interest in seeing that the rubbish was fully collected and removed. The less refuse collected, the better was it for him.

The City is now devided into ten Districts. Every two Districts are pre- sided over by a Senior Sanitary Inspector. Under him, again, in each several District, there is a European Sanitary Inspector, as well as a Portuguese or Indian Foreman. The Contractor merely furnishes baskets, brooms, and gangs of labour- ers, with Chinese Foremen, who work under the direction of the aforesaid Inspectors, who, again, are under the supervision of the Medical Officer of Health

The Contractor also provides junks of approved pattern, with which he removes the rubbish and throws it into the sea, at specified places. The Con- tractor is responsible that no refuse is thrown into the harbour, and if this takes place, he has to pay the cost of dredging out any accumulation, near to the stations of the receiving-junks. The whole system appears to work well. The only defect seems to be that, despite the stringent provisions of the contract to the contrary, too much dry-refuse finds its way into the Drains and Sewers. I suspect that this is due to want of care in completely removing the dry refuse, before wash- ing down the side-channels in the streets. This evil is undoubtedly aggravated by the improper construction of the gulleys. The gulleys are now cleansed by the scavengers. I believe that, when the scavenging of the Sewers and Drains is under the Scavenging Authority, more care will be taken, by all concerned to prevent matter from entering which will have to be removed by the same Authority, or rather by the Contractor under him.

97. Removal of excreta is now performed by an independent Contractor; who Removal of pays the sum of $73,000 annually, with respect to the manurial value of the excreta. excreta. It is to his interest, therefore, to remove as much as he can, provided that it is worth carrying. As heretofore, no doubt some excreta, too dilute to be worth carrying, such as the washings of the pots, finds its way to the sewers. As long as it goes to the Sewers, and not to the Drains no harm will result. It will only necessitate a little additional care in the cleansing and washing-out of gulleys.

HOUSE CONSTRUCTION AND OVERCROWDING.

of present

conditions of

98. I have no hesitation in stating, that as regards overcrowding, the present con- Comparison ditions of Victoria are, generally, rather worse than better, than they were in 1882. state with As regards cubic capacity, per individual, they are about the same; but, as regards con ground-area, the conditions are worse, owing to the great number of lofty houses that have been built, during the past twenty years; or less. Many of the old rookeries, the centre of the town exist, in a state little different to that which I described in 1882. Even the new buildings on the Praya Reclamation are, as regards construction, scarcely less insanitary than the old. I do not propose here to go into details, with regard to house-construction and overcrowding. This matter has received the attention of Professor SIMPSON, and he will no doubt deal with it in his final report; and I know that my views and his, are in complete agreement.