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74
Public Health Offices,
2, Paradise Row, Bethnal Green, N.E.
12th January, 1910.
Sir.
Home Office enquiry as to the Industrial Employment
of Women before and after child birth.
I have the honour to forward for your information the following
particulars obtained in this Borough. I regret that I am unable to
afford fuller information, as the original form of enquiry was somewhat
inquisitorial and the questions asked gave rise to so much
dissatisfaction that the use of the form was forbidden by the Public
Health Committee.
The following particulars relate to enquiries made mostly upon
information received from London County Council mid-wives and
officials of Public Institutions who have forwarded addresses of
confinements attended by them.
The period covered by the enquiry is the year 1908 and such
infants as were then visited were kept under observation until they
reached the age of twelve months.
The number of infants visited was 898, of these 271 were boys
and 242 girls born alive and 207 boys and 178 girls notified after
death.
In most instances the mother was living with her husband,
but in five she was a widow and seven other women had been
deserted by their husbands. No enquiry was made as to whether
the mother was married, but information that she was unmarried,
was volunteered in seven cases by relatives.
It is found in this Borough that the mothers of the young
children are not industrially employed to any great extent, if they
are so employed, total or partial unemployment of the husband is
the cause. During the year under consideration 83 per cent. (745)
were found to be employed only in their household and family
affairs. Seventy two were homeworkers (see employment table)
forty six went out to work or were regularly employed as charwomen,
school and office cleaners. Seventeen were hawkers and
street sellers and usually took the baby with them when out on
business. Two mothers were in hospital and one in an asylum.