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endorse the complaint of a Factory Inspector, and refused to require
the owner of a small workshop to provide two closets where only
one or two workers of each sex were employed. In the opinion of
the Sanitary Committee, the attempt to enforce such an order would
certainly have been nullified by the discharge of the women, and
their replacement by male young persons.
The wording of the corresponding section in the Factory Act is
somewhat more stringent, for, unless a workshop is provided with
proper separate accommodation for each sex, that workshop is
declared not to be kept in conformity with the law, and the owner
is liable to a penalty of ten pounds.
It is quite within the powers of H.M. Factory Inspectors to take
proceedings on their own account, if they are dissatisfied with our
refusal to act on their complaints, but, I am convinced, that the
result of the infliction of a penalty would be, not only that a
number of women would lose their employment, but that very few
additional closets would be erected.
In compliance with Section 3 (3) of the 1891 Factory Act, I report
to the Factory Inspector of the district whenever I find children,
young persons, or women employed in workshops (except domestic
workshops), unless I find evidence that the premises are already
under inspection by the Home Office Authorities.
HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES ACT.
(Part II.)
During the past year I certified seventy-six houses as unfit for
habitation. The following list gives details of proceedings taken
under this Act during the past year :—
c 2