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264
1911]
Cleanliness.— During the year 82 workrooms were found in a dirty condition and
a similar number were cleansed upon instruction. The degree of dirtiness varies considerably,
but the average condition of the workshops in the borough is probably higher than
that of dwelling-houses. Occupiers have reason to complain that the standard of personal
cleanliness of their employees is very far below that which the local authority insists shall
be upheld in regard to the premises. The remedy for this lies in the employer's hands. I
have endeavoured to find out what attempts are being made by them to deal with the
matter. I am usually informed that the girls are "watched," but the result varies with
the employers' or forewomen's personal ideals. For instance, in one workshop the forewoman
told me she frequently had to send girls home for uncleanliness, in another place
the forewoman stated that she never had done so. In both places the same trade was
carried on and about the same number of girls were employed, but I was struck with the
general cleanly appearance of the employees in the one place and the dirty and untidy
appearance in the other. The forewoman's statements made it clear that in the former the
girls were " picked," while the casual supervision in the latter had failed to differentiate
between the clean and the dirty.
Ventilation.— Nuisances were recorded in 15 premises of insufficient ventilation
and in 13 instances better use was made of the existing means of ventilation or additional
inlets were provided. The rooms where young women are employed appear to be usually
better ventilated than those rooms where older women are at work. This may be due to
either or both of two reasons : firstly, that the younger women are not so susceptible to
draught; secondly, that they are better equipped with the knowledge of the value of pure
air. Without elaborate chemical apparatus it is impossible to accurately test the air in a
room, and it is necessary to depend on sensations which differ widely with different persons;
and, further, the degree of impurity varies with the number of occupants, the temperature
and the time of day. Thus under present conditions of inspection it is not possible to
definitely prove the state of the air in a room or to impose satisfactory ventilation, and
the improvement can only grow in proportion to the knowledge and demands of the occupants
of the workroom. The great efforts being made to educate the public in anti-tuberculosis
precautions should assist in bringing about this demand.
Overcrowding.—The number of premises found to be overcrowded was 17, and in
13 cases the nuisances thus caused were found to have been abated before the close of the
year. As in the previous year in no case was there more than one above the number allowed.
In one workshop the overcrowding was caused through the workroom being temporarily
used as a bedroom.
Sanitary Accommodation.—During the year nuisances were caused on 3 premises
by insufficient accommodation, on 96 by foul pans and on 85 by defective apparatus. During
that period additional w.c.'s were provided for 2 workshops, 100 pans were cleansed upon
instruction, and 86 w.c.'s repaired. In one case the approaches to the conveniences, used by the
males and famales respectively, were not separated, but the nuisance was abated by structural
alterations.
Miscellaneous defects.—These amounted to 113, of which 103 were remedied before
the close of the year. As in previous years any nuisances found which were connected with
the purely residential portions of the premises were reported to the district inspectors.
Workroom Cards.—The number of workroom cards distributed was 231. These
cards specify the number of persons who may be employed in the room in which the card
is exhibited both during ordinary working hours and also during overtime (when allowed).
Notices.—In respect to nuisances found, 70 intimation notices were served and one
statutory notice. Seventeen of the intimation notices referred to nuisances in factories and