Sessional_Paper_1907 — Page 534

185 (274)

2591.2

2596

A. On the face of the case stated, the effect would be that the man had lost his $20,000.

Mr. Shelton Hooper.-If these figures are correct.

A. Yes.

Mr. Humphreys.-He had lost his $20,000 directly following Government legislation?

A. Yes.

The Chairman.-As a consequence of the legislation, he loses what is practically his margin, looking at the purchase from a banking point of view. He loses a fifth of the value of his property, doesn't he?

A.There is this of course that the man might, in the first instance, in laying out the property have laid it out in a more sanitary manner. If it were not considered to be insanitary, this sacrifice of space would not be required from him.

Mr. Humphreys.-But that would apply to the original owner. to the man who bought the property.

A.-That is so.

It would not apply

Q. And of course I suppose you admit that it is a perfectly legal and lawful trans- action for a man to buy property and borrow #ths of the money on mortgage?

A.-Oh yes.

Q.-Therefore if it is a lawful act and, through the direct action of the Government lie loses all he has put into that property. it must amount to confiscation?

A. I presume you might designate it so.

The Chairman.Any way the case, you must admit Mr. Chatham, I think, is one that might easily arise?

A.It might arise. I can't of course pretend to vouch for the accuracy of the figures.

Q. It might arise. We will suppose conditions as they existed at the beginning of 1903, and as they existed after the passing of the present Ordinance, after a very drastic change was made in the sanitary condition of the property, that the owner might, under such conditions which appear to be perfectly possible, he might lose one fifth of the value of his property.

82.-Witness:-There is just one matter Mr. Chairman before I go, and that is: In stating what additional staff, I thought would be necessary, if the whole of the duties now performed by the Secretary of the Sanitary Board and the Inspectors were performed by the Public Works Department-

Mr. Shelton Hooper.-By the Building Authority.

Witness:-By the Building Authority, the staff I gave referred only to the outdoor portion of the work. It would be necessary to augment the office staff by probably the addition of one clerk and one assistant engineer.