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173
[1903
Register —At the end of the year there were on the register 2,279 workshops,
workplaces, laundries and bakehouses, with 3,506 rooms. That portion
of the register kept by Mr. West was at the beginning of the year rather in
arrear, chiefly due to the fact that he had not entered the workshops until they
had been measured. He, however, made strenuous efforts to complete it, as
far as possible, with the result that, while at the end of the first quarter there
were 1,707 on the register, there were 2,213 at the end of the second, 2,245 at
the end of the third, and 2,279 at the end of the fourth. Of these 2,279 workplaces
women were employed in 1,083 and men in 1,196. The register is kept
on the card principle, which has been found the readiest for reference, as well
as for the removal or addition of workplaces. It also avoids the use of heavy
and cumbersome books.
Additions to and Removals from the Register.—During the year 612 workshops,
of which 214 were newly discovered, were added to the register, and in
186 of these women were employed ; while 172, were removed from it.
Sanitation.
Cleanliness.— The workshops and workrooms were generally found in an
improved condition when compared with previous years. As a rule very little
difficulty has been experienced in getting the owners to cleanse them, although
now and again some pleaded that the exigencies of their business would
prevent them carrying out the notices served on them. It was, however,
pointed out that as cleanliness was most desirable where the
greatest number of hands were employed, it was essential that the
work should be done speedily, and they accordingly executed it at once.
In 127 instances workrooms wherein women were employed were found
in a dirty state, and these with the addition of 3 others, were cleansed. On the
other hand 296 workshops where men were employed were discovered to
require cleansing, and the requisite limewhiting was carried out, in addition to
15 others, which the owners cleansed voluntarily.
Effluvium Nuisances.—No nuisances of this character came under
observation.
Air Space.—It is satisfactory to find that in only 13 workplaces, in
all of which women were employed, was overcrowding discovered, and immediately,
on attention being called to the fact, the nuisance was abated. One
reason assigned for this by your Inspector (Miss Gray) is that in most of the workshops
the number of persons employed has been smaller than usual owing to the