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The Inspectors further report as follows:—
As in former years, we kept under supervision the public lavatories provided for women,
three in number—two in North Kensington, at Westbourne-grove and Talbot-road, respectively,
and one in Brompton-road, by the Oratory. The heating arrangements at Talbot-road
lavatory having been found inadequate, an improved form of stove was fixed with satisfactory
results. Complaint having been received of the want of free accommodation at the Westbournegrove
lavatory, for women too poor to pay the customary fee, an inquiry was instituted, with the
result that, upon the recommendation of the Public Health Committee, one water-closet, and also
one at Brompton-road, was made free; a fact conspicuously noted on the door of the convenience
nearest to the entrance—resulting in a large falling off in the receipts; many women apparently able
to pay the fee, using the closets without payment. We suggested in our report that discretionary
power to allow free use of the closets should be given to the attendants.
"We likewise kept under supervision the lavatory accommodation at the eleven railway
stations in the Royal Borough, which was, as a rule, found in good order."
WORKSHOPS WHERE MEN ARE EMPLOYED.
Considerable improvement with regard to workshop inspection, generally, took place in 1902
consequent on the appointment of additional male inspectors, which permitted of men's workshops
being brought under supervision. Men's workshops (i.e. workshops conducted on the system of not
employing any woman, young person or child therein) are in a somewhat different position to those
where women are employed, inasmuch as (inter alia) the sections in Part I. of the Act relating to
temperature, thermometers, means of ventilation, drainage of floors, sanitary conveniences, etc., are
not applicable to them.
I have received from the Chief Sanitary Inspector the subjoined account of the administration
of the Act in relation to men's workshops, in 1906.