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53
As regards Home Work, the powers given to district
Councils of controlling the conditions under which certain
classes of work are done in the homes of workers are important.
These powers have for their object the prevention
of home work being done (i) in dwellings which are injurious
or dangerous to the health of the workers themselves, e.g.,
through overcrowding-, want of ventilation, or other insanitary
conditions; (ii) in premises where there is dangerous
infectious disease.
In order that the Council may be fully informed as to
home workers, the Act provides that all manufacturers
should send to the local Authority the names and addresses
of the out-workers whom they employ, in August and
February of each year.
Three cases of infectious diseases were reported on the
premises of out-workers during the year.
In seventeen instances notices were served as to the
condition of the premises in which home workers were
employed, and all have been complied with.
Note by Chief Sanitary Inspector.—Taking a retrospect
of the last 25 years, one cannot help being struck by
the gradual, steady progress made year by year in the
improvement of the hygienic conditions in the environments
of the workers in workshops and workplaces in Willesden.
In the early days it was no uncommon sight to see both men
and women, working at their several occupations, in illlighted,
badly ventilated and overcrowded workshops.
These premises were often situated in underground rooms or
basements, where it was necessary, even in the daytime to
have resort to artificial light.
These undesirable conditions were brought about by two
principal factors: (1) The inadequate powers, prior to the