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139
[1898
I have distributed 279 cards to be exhibited in workrooms, stating the cubic capacity
of each room and the number of persons who may be employed in it.
It is to be regretted that the Factory and Workshop Act requires no extra cubic space
in laundry ironing rooms in which there are iron-heating stoves, as in some rooms, though
the legal 250 cubic feet is allowed for each person, the workers have to stand too close to
the stoves, which, particularly in summer, is most exhausting, and cannot but be
prejudicial to the health of the workers, especially considering the long hours (14 per day)
they may be called on to work. It is also a matter for regret that there is no fixed
minimum height for ironing rooms, as occasionally over-head drying is carried on in
rooms which are so low that the wet clothes hang close to the heads of the ironers, and the
dampness and heat of the atmosphere are very great.
Ventilation.— In two dressmakers' rooms, which were structurally insufficiently ventilated,
additional ventilators have been provided. In summer the ventilation of the
workrooms presents comparatively little difficulty, but in winter the tendency, on the part
of the employees, to keep all windows and ventilators closed, still exists.
Cleanliness.— 84 workrooms, found in a dirty condition, have been cleansed and whitewashed.
Proportionately the largest number of these rooms was in laundries, where the
presence of dirty linon, dirty water and soapsuds, combined with the steam and dust from
coppers and stoves, make frequent whitewashing a necessity. The work, which in mos
"workshop" laundries is carried on in dwelling-houses, and not in specially adapted
premises, causes many dilapidations, and the exercise of great care and vigilance on the
part of the occupier is necessary to keep a laundry in a thoroughly clean and sanitary
condition.
Sanitary Defects.— In addition to the above-mentioned nuisances, I have discovered
on inspection and reported to you the existence of 262 sanitary defects liable to be dealt
with under the Public Health Act. In consequence of my reports the drains of 19
workshops have been tested by Inspector West and relaid under his supervision. I have
served 85 intimation notices regarding the various defects, and I have personally supervised
the abatement of 184 nuisances.
Comlaints referred to H.M. Inspectors of Factories.— I have forwarded to H.M.
Women Inspectors of Factories for their consideration various complaints which have been
made to me regarding excessive hours of work and illegal employment of women and
children, and also as to insanitary conditions existing in work places in other districts.
The Homes of Female Outworkers.— In visits to the homes of female outworkers, who
work alone or assisted by members of their own family only, I have found work being done
in very varied surroundings. In some cases the workers are fairly well-to-do women, who
only want to earn a little pocket money, and who work in their sitting rooms or kitchens;
but frequently the work is the only or principal means of livelihood, and is carried on in
the family living and sleeping room. In one such instance I found Ladies' Costumes being
machined in her "one" room by a woman, who, though a good worker, had had to leave
her indoor place of work on account of her great want of personal cleanliness !
The outworkers have to work late and early during the seasons, although in their
slack time they are frequently weeks without employment. As there is no possibility of