View report page

76
dressmaker, in the North district) all work was at once stopped until a certificate of recovery
was received from the doctor attending, and disinfection had been carried out.
"Excessive Moisture.—Mention was made in the Report for 1900 of the excessive moisture
found in some of the laundries recently transferred to the borough, owing to the washhouses
being filled with steam to an unnecessary extent. Additional means of ventilation have been
provided in some of the worst cases, by the alteration of the windows near the coppers, or by
additional openings over the latter. We are pleased to report that, though still not as satisfactory
as we could wish, the atmosphere of these washhouses is distinctly improved, and we
have received expressions of satisfaction at the result both from employers and employed.
"Restaurants and Dining-Rooms.—In conformity with instructions received, we inspected
during the year all the restaurants, to the number of 111,'giving special attention to lavatory
accommodation. It is a noteworthy fact that the kitchens of workmen's dining-rooms and
coffee-houses were, as a rule, found to be cleaner and better kept generally, than those of the
higher-class restaurants. We are pleased to report that in all cases we were received with
courtesy. A detailed report on the results of the inspection was made, from which the subjoined
summary has been compiled: —
North South
Kensington. Kensington
Number of restaurants, &c., inspected 88 73
Premises found to be dirty 5 8
Sanitary conveniences out of order 1 6
Dustbins wanting 8 10
Kitchen situated in the basement 5 88
Do. insufficiently ventilated 1 15
Complaints referred to Medical Officer of Health 8 2
Women only employed in the kitchens (number of places) 21 38
Men only employed in the kitchens (number of places) 6 18
Persons of both sexes employed in the kitchens (number of places) 11 21
Total number of persons employed in the kitchens—
Men 28 68
Women 58—86 92—160
"Lavatory accommodation for customers, where provided, was satisfactory; but at a
number of restaurants, chiefly those kept by foreigners, no provision had been made. There
would appear to be an obligation* to provide such accommodation, and the matter is one deserving
the attention of sanitary authorities. Twenty-eight written intimations of nuisance were
served with satisfactory results. Minor defects were corrected upon verbal attention being drawn
to them.
"Photographers.—The business of a photographer is one of those registered by the Factory
Department at the Home Office. Accordingly 20 photographic establishments were visited for
enquiry, 7 in the North district and 13 in the South district; women were found to be employed
in 14 of them (3 in the North and 11 in the South), the total number of women employed being
40 ; 7 and 33 in the two districts respectively. Four written intimations were served in respect
of dirty premises or defective sanitary conveniences, with satisfactory results.
"Complaints.—These are usually received from workers, visitors, or societies, such as the
Industrial Law Committee, the Women's Industrial Council, etc. Complaints relating to sanitary
matters in connection with workshops, &c., are always attended to as soon as practicable,
whether anonymous or otherwise. They generally prove to be well-founded. Complaints regarding
long hours of work are referred to the Lady Factory Inspectors' Department at the
Home Office. His Majesty's Superintending Inspector of Workshops has forwarded complaints
of nuisances observed by the factory inspectors, all of which have been dealt with.
"General.—We are pleased to report that our visits, generally, are welcomed by employers,
who, as a rule, willingly conform with the provisions of the law, when informed of them. Frequently,
on a first visit to a workshop, when we find infraction of the law, e.g., as to overcrowding,
the offence appears to have arisen, not so much from intentional disregard of the regulations
relating to the matter, as from want of knowledge of the requirements of the law, as set out in
the Abstract of the Factory Acts, with which the occupier was not acquainted, apparently, as
no copy was affixed as required by the Act. But, in the south district, a few ' fashionable'
dressmakers appeared to think that their business should be exempted from regulation and supervision;
a contention which could not be entertained. Certain photographers also raised the
point that their premises were not 'workshops,' but the recent judicial decision, referred in
the footnote at page 74 shows this objection to be invalid. The matter was brought to the
attention of the Public Health Committee, and letters were written to the proprietors pointing
out the obligation resting on them to carry out the requirements of the Acts, and the duties
imposed by the Orders issued by the Secretary of State, since when no further difficulty has
occurred."
* See "case," foot-note, page 74, ante.