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89
RESTAURANTS AND EATING-HOUSES.
The annual statutory inspection of these premises is now
complete. There is a total of 232 such places (as compared with
220 in 1902), in which about 400 men and 600 women are
occupied in the preparation of food. These figures do not
include waiters and waitresses, but only persons actually engaged
in the preparation of food. In some cases such employes live on
the premises. By the courtesy of proprietors I am able to say
that the number of persons using restaurants in Finsbury daily
is at least 60,000.
In 1902 it was found necessary to take action for the remedy
of sanitary defects in 150 instances (out of 220) which showed
that 68 per cent, of all these places were defective in one way or
another. In 1903 it has been necessary to serve 137 sanitary
notices (out of 232 premises), which gives a percentage of
59 as being sanitarily defective. This would appear to
show some improvement, but it is evident that continuance
of strict supervision is necessary.
The chief defects were dirty floors, walls and ceilings, some
of them extremely so ; unclean yards or areas where food was
being prepared ; a number of premises without proper or sufficient
dustbin accommodation ; and a number also in which the
sanitary conveniences were either quite insufficient or defective.
In a considerable number of cases infringement of the Bye-laws
were met with in respect to the regulation that no sanitary convenience
shall communicate directly with a room in which food is
prepared. Whilst it may be said that many of the proprietors
of these establishments conduct their business in a
suitable manner and wholly within the meaning of the law, the
same cannot be said of all. Some of the kitchens and cellars were
in a disgraceful condition, and food prepared in them could
not but be open to grave criticism.