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Under the London County Council General Powers Act, 1902, the London County Council has
obtained increased powers respecting common lodging houses. Under this new Act, the license is only
valid for the period of one year, but the license may be renewed from year to year.
The license can only be refused upon the ground (a) that the person applying to be licensed is
not a fit and proper person to be licensed as a common lodging house keeper; or (b) that the premises
are not suitable or suitably equipped for the purposes of a common lodging house.
Respecting the premises it is further stated that they must be structurally and otherwise suitable
for use and occupation as a common lodging house, having regard to the number, health, safety and
convenience of the persons occupying or intended to occupy the same.
Under this section of the Act (Section 47), the London County Council have been making many
further requirements in all the common lodging houses of the Borough before the license will be
renewed. All the rooms of the common lodging houses have been measured, and in most of the
common lodging houses the number of beds will have to be reduced. In many cases the drainage will
have to be reconstructed, and in many the waterclosets and lavatory accommodation also. The County
Council has also required separate accommodation for the washing of clothes and feet of the inmates.
In cases where the passages and staircases are not made of fire-resisting material, adequate means for
escape in case of fire have to be provided.
Section 53 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1902, is as follows:—
(1.) From and after the passing of this Act, Section 9of the Common Lodging Houses Act,
1851, shall cease to be operative or to have effect in the county.
FACTORIES, WORKSHOPS AND WORKPLACES.
During the year the inspection of factories, workshops and workplaces in the Borough has been
continued, and as, under the new Factory and Workshop Act of 1901, a register of all the workshops
in the Borough must be kept, all the 360 workshops (including 12 workshop laundries) which were
inspected during the year have been placed on the register.
In all, 704 workshops (including 13 workshop laundries, and excluding bakehouses which are
kept in a separate register), were on the register at the end of the year and consisted of 1,100 rooms;
and 3,484 men, 1,349 women and 384 young persons were employed.