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to be adopted. Where Public Baths and Washhouses
exist, it should no longer be permitted to carry on
family washing either in a single room, or in a house,
where more than one family resides. I have long since
been convinced that nothing is more prejudicial to
health and comfort than the living room converted
into, or closely contiguous to a washing place; the
exhalations of dirty water and moist dirty clothing, of
water spilled on floor boards, matting or carpet,
evaporation of moisture, or fermentation going on
day or night, is a repulsive nuisance.
Public Work Rooms.
As a remedy for many of the evils here alluded
to, Public Workshops should be provided by the
municipal authority ; where a number of small compartments
or rooms, well lighted and ventilated, could
be profitably let out at small weekly rentals ; this
would at once obviate the necessity for pursuing daily
labour under conditions unsafe to health. Such
conveniences, with recreation grounds in the shape of
public gardens, walks and ornamental open spaces, with
seats under shady trees, accessible to the lowest class,
are now becoming absolutely essential to preserve healthy
vitality, and save the risk which threatens large numbers
of persons from a gradual degeneration. Abundant
proof of this can be found in the more thickly populated
parts of this wealthy Parish. A few hundred
pounds would be amply repaid in health and in
having the satisfaction of some benefit for rates, while
the diminution of pauperism would soon be manifest.