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CHAPTER XV,
to find the lesser sites sufficient to accommodate these small blocks of
houses than the larger sites required for long barrack lines. As electric
power is available on most of the collieries, it might be possible, without
undue expenditure. to erect standard lights in and around the house lines.
Prevention of Overcrowding.

To the great influx of labour and the deficiency of housing ac-
commodation at certain periods of the year is added overcrowding. This
is further intensified by the custom of gangs of one class crowding to-
gether in the rooms of one block rather than occupying rooms in separate
or distant blocks, a tendency which it is always difficult for employers
bo overcome. If, as was indicated to us, there is the further difficulty of
workers on different shifts deliberately and of choice occupying one set of
rooms alternately, even when others are lying vacant, the Board’s health
staff should take every possible step to prohibit such occurrences.

Sanitary Arrangements.

Sanitary arrangements in the mines housing areas are by no
means satisfactory. Latrine accommodation is inadequate, and there is
room for an increase in bathing and washing places near the lines, most
of the population using surface tanks for these purposes. Even if the
provision of washing and bathing places in individual houses is not
practicable, it should be possible to extend the practice of certain
employers who have built simple structures for such purposes in the
vicinity of each block of houses. Fitted with taps and provided with
drains to remove foul water, these would add greatly to the amenities
of life for the miner. A more general construction of latrines of types
approved by the Boards of Health and Welfare should also be put
in hand, and sufficient numbers to meet the needs of both sexes erected
at suitably convenient distances. Where piped water is available,
flush-out septic-tank latrines should be installed in preference to other
types.
Moratoria.
Owing to financial depression in the coal industry, the Boards
of Health have unfortunately found it impossible to insist upon close
adherence to the standards laid down in their bye-laws. The Jharia
Board, for example, has granted moratoria annually since 1926, so that
since that date the carrying out of definite programmes has been in
abeyance. Standard specifications, however, have been adhered to
in the case of new construction and also in the reconditioning of houses
which have fallen into such a state of disrepair as to require rebuilding.
The complicated system in force in the Jharia ares of issuing licence
forms of different colours for different grades of housing accommodation,
I our opinion, should be abolished forthwith. We believe that the
System is overweighted with forms, and at least some of these licences
have been used for the purpose of postponing urgently required improve-
ments. Even during the moratorium, regular programmes of construe-
tion and reconstruction have been carried out on some collieries. so