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Bakehouses. —The 39 bakehouses were regularly inspected with
reference to their cleanliness, ventilation, water supply, drainage, &c,
and orders made when necessary, for works required, chiefly whitewashing
and cleansing. By the Factory and Workshop Act, no underground
place which was not so used before January Ist, 1896, shall be
used as a bakehouse.
Workshops. —Table No. 5 contains a list of workshops, from which
it will be seen that the chief trades carried on are those of dressmakers,
tailors, laundries, and milliners. We have very few factories, that is,
places where steam is used as a mechanical power. Regular inspection
has been made with respect to ventilation, cleanliness, closet accommodation,
&c. Overcrowding was abated in two instances, and orders
made for cleansing and whitewashing 31 workshops.
Overcrowding. —Ten cases of illegal overcrowding were reported
during the year. Complaints are frequently heard of the difficulties the
artizan or laborer, with several children, has in obtaining house room.
Our Bye-laws require a provision of 300 cubic feet of free air space
for each person of an age exceeding ten years, and 150 feet for each
child under ten years, to occupy a room for sleeping purposes; but
where such room is used also as a living room, then 400 feet is required
for each adult, and 200 for each person under ten years of age.
Active building operations, and the presence of tramway company
stables, &c, have tended to attract labour to Hampstead, and consequently
to raise the rents of available houses. The question of cubical
area is one which cannot be overlooked. The labourer with a family of
five or six children is called upon to pay a third of his wages for house
accommodation if he is to avoid overcrowding. The cubical area of the
rooms, therefore, becomes to him of more importance than their convenience
or sanitary condition. As a rule, cubical air space can be
obtained at a cheaper rate in cheaply built houses in the Kilburn Ward,
or in old and decayed houses in the Town Ward, than in model
buildings, or flats, built to suit the convenience of the poor. These
latter, indeed, seem to be taken possesion of by the superior artizan
classes, who can be trusted to look after themselves, and being punctual
in payment of rent, and giving no trouble by drunkenness or disorderly