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191
[1905
Mr. West also inspected these premises and paid as many as 467 visits to
them, with the result that he had most of the evils that were found
remedied. Want of cleanliness of vessels in which food is prepared and
cooked seemed to be the greatest evil that has been discovered, but as there is
no law which deals with the matter, it is only by pointing out the bad results
that are likely to accrue to the public through such a state of affairs that
remedies are effected. Legislation dealing with the vessels in which food is
prepared and cooked is much needed.
Laundries.—At the end of the year 161 laundries were on the register, as
compared with 193 in the preceding year. There has thus been a decrease
of 32. This has been caused by the growth of large steam laundries, which are
gradually absorbing the work of the smaller hand laundries, which before long
will be a thing of the past, or at all events will be greatly reduced in
numbers.
Miss Brown says in the very interesting report on her duties that this laundry
work appears to be carried on under fairly satisfactory conditions as far as relates
to conformity with existing regulations. It appears, however, a matter to
be regretted that certain provisions of the Factory Act which apply to power
laundries are not also applicable to hand laundries. At present the owner of a
factory laundry must provide a fan or its equivalent to regulate the temperature
of the ironing room and to carry off steam in the washhouse and he must keep
all stoves for heating irons away from the ironing room. As these regulations
cannot be enforced in hand laundries the workers in the ironing room often
work in a temperature which has been greatly raised by the presence
of unscreened stoves for heating irons.
Such a state of affairs should clearly be remedied, and it is therefore to be
hoped that at an early date Parliament will pass the necessary enactment.
Workshops Notified to H.M. Inspector.—Section 133 of the Factory
and Workshops Act provides that where any woman, young child or person is
employed in a workshop in which no abstract of the Act is fixed, as required,
and the Medical Officer of the District Council becomes aware thereof, he shall
forthwith give written notice to the Inspector for the district.
In conformity with this provision, 105 notices of workshops were notified
to H.M. Inspector.