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on the employer, the first of which is that he is compelled to
have his workshop measured, and to affix a notice showing the
number of people that may be employed at one time, allowing
250 cubic feet per head during the day, and 450 cubic feet
during overtime.
This provision of the Act, which is now compulsory on the
occupiers, has for several years past been carried out by your
officers, as it was self-evident to my mind that: "The fact
that workshops being properly measured and the cubical
capacity ascertained, and the number of workpeople allowed
being affixed to the wall of the workshop in the form of a notice,
would have the effect of preventing overcrowding." In practice
this was found to be so, as in many cases where workshops
were first measured, gross overcrowding was found to exist,
but this did not occur subsequently. Another section provides
that where an inmate of any dwelling house, any part of
which is used as a workshop, is suffering from Small Pox or
Fever, the occupier is liable to a fine of ten pounds, if he continues
to carry on his work, or allows any work to be given out
to any contractor. This applies to Factories, Workshops, and
Laundries. A special feature of this Act is that Laundries and
Bakehouses for the first time are brought within the operation
of the Factories and Workshops Act, and are to be considered
as workshops within the meaning of the Act. This is a very
wise provision with respect to laundries, as it is most essential
that the washing of clothes should be under proper sanitary
supervision.
The owners of factories and workshops are now compelled
to make an annual return of all persons, ages, and sex, employed
by them.
The outworkers are not omitted from the Act {i.e., persons
who take work home). To ensure wearing apparel being made
under proper sanitary conditions, the Secretary of State issued