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66
workshop supervision.
From other sources 7 complaints were received last year, relating to—
Defective drainage, 1; insufficient means of warming, 1; dirty conditions, 1;
overcrowding, 2; overtime, 1; and "other matters," 1.
The complaints as to temperature and overtime were referred to the Home Office.
Overcrowding.—In 1902, 44 cases of overcrowding were reported; in 1903, 31; in 1904,
16; and last year 9—a very satisfactory reduction.
Deficient Ventilation.—In 1903, 19 workshops were noted as insufficiently ventilated;
in 1904, 10; and last year, 3.
Warming.—A steady improvement is taking place in the provision of means of warming,
but the reduction in the number of complaints has been in part due to the milder winter.
Unventilated gas-stoves are gradually being banished from workshops of all classes.
Sanitary Conveniences.—These are being gradually improved, as may be seen by
comparing the complaints recorded by the Inspectors during the past three years:—
1902. 1903. 1904. 1905.
Insufficient 9 5 2 —
Not separately provided 33 17 4 4
Badly placed 18 10 13 4
Unventilated 8 5 — 1
Defective 29 28 23 7
All the closets reported last year as "badly placed" were in men's workshops inspected
for the first time. The defects were chiefly those of waste preventers out of order.
Sickness.—Seventy cases of infectious illnesses were reported at "workshop premises,"
29 of the cases occurring in houses occupied bv homeworkers. In 1904 the numbers were
53 and 14 respectively. The cases reported are as follow:—
Scarlet fever 3 (1) Chickenpox 5 (2)
Diphtheria 1 Measles 43 (19)
Erysipelas 1 Whooping Cough 17 (7)
There were 8 deaths from consumption during the year at premises where workshops
exist, 3 being outworkers' premises.
The precautions taken were in every case found to be sufficient, and no action was
requisite under the special sections of the Factory and Workshop Act.
Laundries.—The conditions prevailing in these premises continue satisfactory. The
defects found during the year were of very small importance, and were promptly remedied on
attention being called to them.
Bakehouses.—At the close of 1904, only one underground bakehouse was without the
certificate required by Sec. 101 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, the necessary
alterations not having been completed to the satisfaction of the Public Health Committee..
A summons against the Council was issued by the occupier of the bakehouse, and the
certificate granted by the Magistrate.
The total number of bakehouses in the Borough at the end of 1905 was 79, viz., 18 "level"
and 61 underground. Of the 79 bakehouses 8 are factorv bakehouses, and 71 workshop. Of
the former 39 inspections were made during the past year; of the latter, 506. Sixteen
bakehouses were reported to be dirty. Three cases of sickness—viz., one each of enteric
fever, erysipelas and chickenpox—occurred on the premises.