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forming a feeding supply to the big firms which require them. At the
delivery end of the annealing process, which takes 3i hours, the bottles
are slowly delivered on the moving belt which has drawn them through
the annealer. They are then lifted on to a table and rapidly examined
for flaws, etc. Where such are found they are thrown into a waste
barrel and this waste material is carried back to the furnace for resmelting.
Actually there is no waste. The bottles are packed in
boxes and despatched to the various firms. All this work is carried
out continuously day and night, in three shifts of eight hours, 350 men
being employed. Three shifts are necessary as it would not do to let
the furnaces cool.
The Premises. The workshops are one-storied and are composed
of brick walls with an iron roof. They are well ventilated, this being
necessary owing to the amount of heat given off by the process. It is
of interest to note that there is an ample supply of good drinking
water direct from the main ; the workers ably second the employers'
views that the use of light intoxicants is wrong. Tea is consumed to
help to counteract the effects of the heat. The machine shop, where
the moulds are made, is well Jit and ventilated.
The Sanitary Accommodation. This is ample and consists of one
range of trough w.c.'s and one large slate urinal situated in the yard.
There are certain defects here, viz., no adequate flushing provision for
the urinal. Water is laid on, discharging through a sparge pipe over
the surface of the slate, but we have no guarantee as to how often this
is done. We recommended an automatic flushing cistern, and also the
use of acid for the channel and slabs. Within the building is another
range of four w.c.'s and one urinal. These were well lit and ventilated,
and were satisfactory. Notices have been complied with.
9. Steel Girder Works.
The works consist of one large one-storey shop in which iron and
steel are used for the making of steel girder work for buildings, bridges,
etc., and steel plates. The process is simple ; the steel is cut, not by
flame, but simply by the hack saw. The material is cut and fitted
according to the plans; it is then taken in convenient sized sections to
the job—for whatsoever purposes required—and erected in situ. There
are the usual machines for punching, drilling and bending, and all the
usual paraphernalia associated with an iron works. The yard was
occupied mostly by stores, and was kept clean.