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85
Homework.
This term has reference to persons who carry on certain
classes of work at their homes. Undter the Factory and
Workshop Act, very important powers are given to District
Councils for controlling the (sanitary) conditions under which the
work is done These powers aim at the prevention of homework
(1) in dwellings which are injurious to the workers themselves,
viz., through overcrowding, inadequate ventilation, &c.,
and (2) in premises where there is dangerous infectious disease.
The outworkers residing in Battersea are employed by firms
established in the Borough and by firms belonging to other
Boroughs.
The list of trades specified by the Home Secretary, to which
Sections 107-110 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901 apply,
are set out in Orders made by the Secretary of State (vide
previous Annual Reports).
During 1913, the names and addresses of 763 outworkers
were received as compared with 825 in 1912 and 749 in 1911.
Lists were sent in by employees and by the Medical Officers of
Health of the following Metropolitan Boroughs and District
Councils:—
District.
Number
of Lists.
Number
of Outworkers.
District.
Number
of Lists
Number
of Outworkers.
Chelsea 2 58 Richmond 1 1
Finsbury 2 12 St. Marylebone 2 28
Fulham 1 3 Shoreditch 1 1
Hackney 1 1 Southwark 5 12
Holborn 1 1 Wandsworth 7 63
Kensington 2 15 Westminster 2 100
.Lambeth 9 28 Wimbledon 1 1
Maiden and Corporation of
Coombe U.D.C. 1 1 London 14 51
Paddington 2 3
P°Plar 1 1 Total I 55 375
The names and addresses of 166 outworkers which were
sent in by employers were found to refer to other districts, and
were accordingly forwarded to the Medical Officers of Health of
these districts.
The premises occupied by outworkers are systematically
inspected, and any insanitary conditions found remedied. The