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62
FACTORIES, WORKSHOPS, WORKPLACES,
OUTWORKERS, etc.
These premises were periodically inspected during the year, special
attention being paid to the sanitary accommodation provided for the
use of persons employed, Sec. 38 P.H. (L) Act, 1891, etc., also to
cleansing, the reception, checking and issuing of outworkers' lists and
the keeping of the necessary registers.
The outworkers' register entails much work, owing to the constant
change of address and to removals.
Notes by Mr. Snowdon.
The sanitary conveniences in the majority of cases have been
fairly well kept, and several new tiers of W.C.s have been provided
for each sex.
No reports were received from H.M. Inspector of Factories in
respect of defects in sanitary accommodation, and this speaks for
itself.
May I suggest the importance of constant inspection of food
factories ; there has, I think, been a tendency to inspect factories more
with a view to observing the condition of the sanitary conveniences
than to watching the processes of food preparation and manufacture
in operation. Such processes, I feel, require constant and close
inspection. In this connection I would instance jam factories, where
pulp of some rather doubtful origin may be in use.
Workshops.—The number of workshops shows a tendency to
decrease, particularly in the drapery and millinery trades; other
methods seem to have been adopted whereby a considerable proportion
of the made-up clothing comes direct from the factory. One shop
manager informed me that whereas a few years ago he could sell 100
yards of a certain material he can now hardly sell one. There is a
tendency on the part of shopkeepers to reduce their working staffs.
Restaurants.—I have found little cause to complain of the
general condition and business methods in restaurants. The most
important matter here, as in bakehouses, is the question of refuse
removal.
The small eating house, or coffee shop, has been hit hardly by the
changed hours of labour. One shop in pre-war years supplied some
200 cups of tea in the early morning, whereas now 20 cups would