STATE OF THE CITY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 139, 7 March 1919, Page 6

STATE OF THE CITY

THE DIRTY PLACES

REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL

BY EPIDEMIC INSPECTORS

At the time of the epidemic, Messrs. Charlee A. Lawrence and John S. Swan, architects, acted in *>.n honorary capacity in inspecting premises in the city, especially hotels, eating houses, and shops. A full report from these two gentlemen was before tho council last night. They found that generally the sanitary appliances in placo3 visited.were in good state, but in older places there were evidences of disrepair and dirt, following are extracts from the report:— Hotels. All the hotels visited (those which bad been inspected by the North- Committee we did not entor) we found in good order and well kept. The sanitary fittings in the majority were exceptionally clean, nnd gave no room for complaint. In several of the oldir hotels where the closets are detached, they have little or no means of light or ventilation. We are of opinion that it should be made compulsory that adequate means of ventilation and light should be provided, preferably by glass louvres. In the older hotels we found that overcrowding in the -bedrooms was fairly common—in several cases we found two and three beds in one loom, where, there was little more than sufficient 6pace for one occupant. Private Hotels. Generally we found these buildings were not so clean and -veil kent as licensed premises. In several of these hotels we found-serious overcrowding. In one or two cases there were beds in. rooms which had no means of airect ventilation or light, but were dependant for both on borrowed lights from adjoining rooms or passage?. We are of opinion that tke local authority should have power to regulate the size and class of Toom that may bo let to the travelling public. If fresh air and sunlight are necessary for the recovery of invalids, surely it is as necessary that all rooms in hotels, where the occupants are constantly , changing, should have a- plentiful supply of both. ' This, raises the question of light and air, and we are of the opinion that all areas, giving light to bedwome, should be open at least on one euie, but preferably on two, after the. principle i.niversally adopted in America, so that the wind may have free access. In one case ;in .particular, several of the bedrooms look into areas which are enclosed on all. sides and are covered over on the top with a, glass lantern light. This .is a condition which is altogether wrong and should not be allowed, as the air, at all times in the lower rooms., cannot be renewed as often as it should be. Wβ are of opinion that the width of these areas should be regulated by tho height of the areas ■ building. A

sft. light area for a five-story building we consider to be quite insufficient. In one private hotel, which appeared to be used almost solely by the lower labouring class, we found the conveniences, though sanitary, extremely dirty. This building is not, in our opinion, suitable for its present use, though it may comply with the existing by-laws.. So far as the bedrooms in this bililding are concerned they may comply with the by-laws, but the passages nro devoid of light, save when the room doors are open, and this leads to'dup.t and filth. We are of opinion that provision should l)e made that all passages should 'be adequately lighted and ventilated in buildings of this nature. The walls and partitions in one private hotel we found covered with a material which, though it may be sanitary in some respects, holds a considerable quantity of dust on the embossing. We mre of opinion that in all cases j where a. building is to be used by the travelling public the finish of the rooms should be at least of lath nnd plaster, and that the walls of bathrooms nnd other conveniences should be finished to a certain height (say, oft. to Cft.) with tiles and above that with plaster. The use of match-lining on walls of such apartments should not bo allowed as the numbers of joints., which are generally after a time open, harbour dirt and dust. The floors of these conveniences should be formed of concrete or other impervious material, such as tiles or patent asphalt. Lead we found is not suitable, as in the majority of cases it is cracked or torn and badly in need of repair

Chinamen's Fruit Shops, The 'premises generally occupied by Chinamen aire old, but are kept in much better and cleaner state than are buildings of a like age occupied by Europeans. There is little to complain of in the state in which the premises are kept by the occupants, but there ie no doubt that the landlords do not look after and keep in repair these premises ns -they should do. The greatest objection, and one which will always present difficulty, ie the construction of unauthorised erections (temporary 'roofs of iron and walls of "packing cases) which the tenants erect in the yards. We.'aro of opinion. that though the refuse from these places is ?emoved every morning, the tenant should be compelled to have a rubbish tin or receptacle in which to put tho decayed fruit, vegetables and loaves. We are further of opinion that, in all cases in which a shop is let for greengrocery ;purpo.*es, \t>, proper store fitted with suitable shelving should be provided with provision on the roof thereof for etacking cases. The matter of the temporary erections is a serious one, as in many cases the erections blook the passage of light and air to the only tv.c. on the premises. «

Restaurants and Tea Rooms, The premises visited we found in a fairly satisfactory state. We can only ro--commend that thejccupiers be compelled to have a sufficient number of rubbish Teceptacles, the covers of which should be made so that they will bo self-shutting, or that the bins should elide into proper compartments formed so as to keep off flies. In some cases the remarks we niako regarding erections in the yards o fChinamen's shops also apply, moro especially in the cheaper claw of matins house, as also do those with regard to the repairs which should be dono by the landlord. Residences.

Though you did not give us definiteinstructions to report upon residential buildings, several which required urgent attention wore brought under our notice by the north committee. Generally we found that overcrowding was very common and the houses in disrepair. 'I hero cgaiii are repairs which should be carried out by the. landlords, who are, no doubt, in most cases getting an exceedingly good rental. In several of the yards visited we found a collection of ashes and other household refuse, showing that the tenants dumped this class of material in the yards in place of in proper receptacles. In one yard we found a heap of ashes, evidently the collection of years. In several of the yards visited we found no provision made for carrying off tho stormwater; especially was this the case where one house was at a higher level than its neighbour. 'Where there is a house on a higher level an open intercepting drain should be provided, so that the water therefrom does not run on to the, yard on the lower level. Repairs.

Several of tho buildings we visited required extensive repairs to the spouting, dowr.pipes, and roof iron. As, however, K'i appreciate the difficulties which have been experienced lately in obtaining plumbers' materia!* and the scarcity of labour, we do not intend to stress the point. We cannot, however, refrain from again remarking upon the shocking slote of disrepair in which we found • several buildings belonging to estates in the hands of the Public Trustee. We were informed thai the attention of the trustee had, at various times, been called to the state in which the buildings were, but nothing had been done. It appears to us that the time allowed in the Public Health Act in which repairs must be carried out after notice has been given, is far too long. There ie one othe? recommendation

that we would make, viz., that there ! should be a frequent inspection of all premises in which food is supplied to the public. In many cases we found that raw and cooked meats, fish, and other articles of diet were lying about in kitchens, sculleries, etc., without protection from flies. In one large private hotel there was n meat safe in the kitchen, but the fitting- was without a back, and. therefore, not flyproof, In one restaurant we found hams hanging in aT enclosed yard adjacent to a w.c. Wo understand that the Health Department has control of these matters, but from personal experience it would appear that the Department undertakes very little inspection' unless attention bo drawn to some nuisance by an outsider.