View report page

78
1915]
Outworkers' Premises.—There were 3,676 outworkers' premises on
the Register, or 739 more than in the preceding year, when there was an
increase of 302 as compared with 1914.
The lists received from the employers in Islington contained the names
and addresses of 3,432 outworkers, while there were also received from the
Medical Officers of Health of other Boroughs, within and without the County,
the names of 2,959 outworkers who resided here.
It is once more to be noted that the lists are reluctantly forwarded by local
employers, who, for the most part, do not send them until several applications
have been made for them. During the year 280 letters were sent to employers
reminding them of their failure to comply with the law.
From these lists the names of 1,079 persons living outside Islington were
abstracted and forwarded to Medical Officers of Health of the boroughs where
they resided.
How necessary is the work of inspecting the homes of outworkers may be
clearly perceived from the fact that during the year it was found that in 8G
instances these people were engaged in making wearing apparel in unwholesome
houses; in making umbrellas and artificial flowers in 27, and paper boxes or bags
in 20, while brush-making was carried out in 14. It was discovered also that
25 outworkers were making wearing'apparel in infected houses, artificial flowers
in 3, and paper boxes, etc. in 4.
Restaurants and kitchens where food is prepared.—There are
now on the register 660 of these places, containing 889 separate rooms, and
of these 260 inspections were made. A large amount of work is yet to be
done in connection with them, for it was found that, out of 22 hotel and
restaurant kitchens inspected, 4 were in an unsatisfactory state, while 40 out
of 132 coffee and dining rooms were in a similar condition. The examination
of 13 refreshment rooms showed that 2 were not satisfactory; while of 93
provision dealers, 28 were not as cleanly as they should have been.
Improper storage of food was found in 5 instances, and 4 of these had
been remedied at the close of the year. Dirty utensils were also discovered on
5 occasions, and these were all subsequently attended to.
Workshops notified to H.M. Inspector.—Under the provisions of
Section 133 of the Factory and Workshop Act, it is required that the Medical
Officer of Health, when he becomes aware that any woman, young child, or
person is employed in a workshop, shall forthwith send notice to H.M. Inspector
of Factories. 60 workshops were reported during the year in accordance with
this section.