MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS 607 



estates; the building and equipment of their hospitals 

 are such that they could easily serve as a model for the 

 best establishments for the sick. 



Directions for the building of hospitals and for the 

 housing of the labourers could be given in a general 

 way, but for the arrangements and equipment thereof 

 it would be difficult to provide a model for use on all 

 estates, as the conditions which prevail, such as the 

 habits of the people, the climate of the district in which 

 the estate is situated, the time during which the buildings 

 will have to serve in connection with the nature of the 

 employment, and other factors which might influence 

 such arrangements and equipment, vary widely. 



With regard to labourers' dwellings, experience has 

 shown that, in the case of married couples, the method 

 of employing small isolated dwellings intended for one 

 or two families is preferable to the barrack system. 

 In any case each family should be housed in separate 

 rooms of at least 4 by 4 m. In such rooms, instead of 

 one family, three unmarried persons may be accom- 

 modated. 



Provision should be made for proper water closets, 

 bathing accommodation, good drinking water and 

 separate kitchens, whilst the laying out of fruit and 

 vegetable gardens should be encouraged. 



In connection with sanitation, it is advisable, before 

 erecting hospitals and labourers' dwellings, to consult a 

 medical man of some experience, preferably one who has 

 some knowledge of the conditions obtaining in the 

 Residency of the East Coast of Sumatra, where much 

 has been done to meet the requirements in this respect. 



In addition to the recruiting charges, the expenses 

 of working with contract labourers may be estimated 

 at an average amount per annum of: 



For housing 



medical treatment 



wages ... 



loss on rice 



supply of tea ... 



gifts... 



writing off debts, etc. 



... f. 10 

 10 



... 140 

 6 

 i 

 i 

 i 



f. 169 



