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crowding was much less than that stated in the report. As a
matter of fact under 10 per cent, of these Workshops were found
to be overcrowded at the time of our visits, whereas the report
stated that 61 per cent, were overcrowded.
I maintain that to get a reliable estimate of the condition of
the Workshops in any district, the greatest number possible
should be inspected and these at intervals, in order to formulate
statistics, it being a well proved fact that statistics based on
small numbers are unreliable.
During the past year a separate office has been created by the
Secretary of State, viz.: that of Inspector of Workshops,
together with the appointment of a number of Assistant
Inspectors, whose chief duties are the carrying out of the Factory
and Workshops Act, so far as relates to seeing that proper
records are kept of overtime made by the employees, preventing
employers from working young persons too many hours per
week, and seeing that the necessary forms are posted up in the
Workshops, etc., during these visits when the Inspectors observe
any insanitary condition such as overcrowding, etc., reports of
these are sent on to me by the Chief Inspector. I have received
a number of such reports during the past year, most of which
were already receiving our attention, the remainder, which did
not relate to such trivial complaints as accumulations of dust, the
Workshops were immediately inspected, and the matters
reported to the Vestry and subsequently dealt with. I might
point out here that the machinery we have under the Public
Health Act is much more cumbersome than that possessed by
the Inspectors under the Factory and Workshops Act; whilst we
have to first send an intimation then wait for the Vestry's order
and after this give a certain latitude for nuisances to be abated,
whereas the Inspector under the latter Act takes proceedings at
once, if a breach of this Act is detected.
When in the course of our inspection of Workshops we find a
child, young person, or women employed in a Workshop
H.M. Inspector of Workshops is immediately notified of the fact
as per section 27 of the Public Health Act. We have endeavoured
during the past year to work in harmony with the
department concerned, and I feel sure by doing so the community
at large have benefited. Out of a number of cases of
overcrowding dealt with it was only found necessary to take
legal proceedings in one case, and that was a gross case of
overcrowding in a Workshop in New Road, the owner was
allowed every latitude to abate the evil but it was found
necessary to enforce the Act, a Summons was therefore taken
out and the magistrate made an order to abate the overcrowding
and fined the owner £3.