View report page

36
this minimum of 250 cubic feet per head was made compulsory,
and it also requires a notice to be affixed by the occupier showing
the number of persons employed in the workshop. It is,
however, to be regretted that the affixing and properly filling
in of this form has not in all cases been insisted upon by the
Factory Authorities. On several occasions I have sent lists of
workshops to H. M. Inspector where it has been found that
this form was not filled in or affixed, especially in those cases
where overcrowding was likely to occur.
It is somewhat singular that where any other offence under
the Factory Acts is discovered, summary proceedings can be at
once instituted by the Factory Inspector and penalties enforced,
but with regard to that part of the Act which relates to the
overcrowding, it has to be dealt with as a nuisance under the
Public Health (London) Act, 1891, by the Sanitary Authority.
This involves the service of notices and subsequent re-inspections,
and renders it exceedingly difficult to obtain a conviction.
In my opinion, where a notice showing the number employed
is filled in and signed by the employer, he should be bound by
it, and should be liable to summary proceedings in the event
of overcrowding being detected.
The frequent inspection of the Home Office Inspectors,
together with our periodical visits, have effected a marked
improvement in the conditions and surroundings of the workpeople
in our district during the last few years. We have been
enabled by tact and courtesy to carry out our duties in connection
with the workshops smoothly and with an entire
absence of friction, this being largely due to a mutual desire
on the part of the Factory Officials and ourselves to adminster
the law in the least objectionable manner, and for the benefit
of the persons affected.
Housing of the Working Classes Act.
A number of houses have been placed under the operation of
this Act during the past year, and many structural alterations
have been made to premises which were previously unfit for