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218
1910]
An effort has been made to get the floors of frying rooms in fried fish shops, and
also the floors in basement kitchens rendered impervious by paving with cement concrete. The
need for this received vivid illustration. A fish frying room had a wooden floor that had
become defective, and the owner consented to replace it with cement concrete. On removing
the boards the soil beneath was found to be alive with vermin, such as beetles, cockroaches,
worms, etc., and there were also several rat runs.
It appears that wherever a wooden floor allows the percolation of fat, rats will travel
for a considerable distance to get to it.
The question of refuse disposal remains in a chaotic condition. From the large hotels
and restaurants refuse is removed, free of extra charge when desired, though no one resides
on the premises, and the refuse accumulated is undoubtedly caused by trading.
Hut in the small coffee shops, where possibly no one is employed, and two families
occupy the premises, there is only a weekly clearance. As far as I can ascertain, in these
cases any extra removal is charged for, and the occupiers prefer to keep the bins crowded
to their utmost capacity. The small shops are in the poorest parts of the Horough, and the
refuse accumulated stews and steams in the sun and rain with the most objectionable results.
Not the least of the nuisances arising from these receptacles is the number of flies that infest
their neighbourhood.
In all my previous reports I have tried to draw attention to this serious and
dangerous nuisance, and pointed out the necessity of a regular bi-weekly clearance from
all places where food is prepared.
May I now respectfully submit to you, that if at present, this is not practicable, it
would be of great benefit if only carried out during the summer months, say from May to
October inclusive. Owing to the use of gas cookers there is little opportunity of burning
vegetable garbage, which accumulates in increased quantities during that period. I am convinced
that it would be of service in preventing disease, especially summer diarrhoea, among
young children.
No further washing accommodation has been provided for the workers; therefore this
section of the London County Council General Powers Act, which has laid down the regulation
"that due cleanliness shall be observed by all persons employed in such places," is
practically inoperative, having failed to compel the employers to provide the necessary
conveniences.
Outworkers' Premises.—The total number of names and addresses received during the
year is as follows:—
From employers in Islington 2,562
From employers in other districts per the Medical Officer
of Health 3,193
5,755
The number of outworkers residing in the Borough at the beginning of the year was
1,850. Since then 417 have removed, and 681 names been added to the register. The total
number of resident outworkers is now therefore 2,114, an increase of 264 over the corresponding
period for the previous year, and the highest number yet registered.
There is a steady increase in the numbers notified year by year, but this may be due
to the systematic registration of firms and persons employing. If, however, the increase
is caused by augmented numbers of workers it is a fair indication of better conditions of
trade : the rule being to supply the indoor staff with work in preference to the outdoor.