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precipitate. Hence, if the Committee desire to make any alteration the present
large tank will have to be altered so as to admit of the provision of means for
agitating the water and bring it as quickly as possible into contact with the
atmospheric air. This will ensure the rapid conversion of the iron into the form
in which it is precipitated. As this must be done before passing the water into the
bath another tank of a size equal to the first must be provided in which the precipitate
may settle, and there should be the provision of yet another tank to act as a
reservoir. This, to our minds, is the only practical way out of the difficulty, and
if we may offer a suggestion, we should say: ' Leave matters as they are, and
avoid the expense of alteration and possible disappointment with its results."
ADMINISTRATION OF THE FACTORY AND WORKSHOP
ACT, 1901, IN CONNECTION WITH FACTORIES,
WORKSHOPS, LAUNDRIES, WORKPLACES, AND
HOMEWORK.
In accordance with the above Act, I have to submit a report
of the work carried out under its enactments.
The figures shown under 1.—Inspection show an increase of
over twelve hundred on the figures for 1907. This is apparent in all
the three classifications of premises which are set out in the table.
It might be expected the written notices would also be in excess,
but they show a decline, especially remarkable as regards workplaces.
Turning to the defects which were found as the result of these
inspections, there were twenty-four less. They were all remedied
without recourse to legal proceedings, except in one instance of
insufficient w.c. accommodation.
This was the only instance in which we had to take out a
summons under this Act. It will be observed that there were twenty-four
instances of home work being carried out in unwholesome
premises. From the Inspector's report it appears that these related
chiefly to such things as " carelessly kept rooms, the work lying
about on the bed, rooms in a dirty condition," and it was not even
necessary to go to the form of serving a notice, for the conditions
were remedied forthwith. The registered workshops in the Borough
show a diminution, except so far as laundries and those that are
used for the making of clothing.