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WORKSHOP SUPERVISION.
57
Complaints.—Nineteen (19) complaints with reference to workshops, &c., were received
from the Home Office during the year, 22 having been received in 1905 and 6 in 1904. The
complaints received last year referred to the following matters:—
Dirty conditions and insufficient ventilation, 3 each; overcrowding, 4; and other matters, 12.
One complaint referred to premises which did not appear to the Department to be a workshop,
and the Home Office was so informed. From other sources 4 complaints were received,
as compared with 7 in 1905, relating to—
Defective water-closet, nuisance from drains, overcrowding, and want of dustbin, 1 each.
Overcrowding.—The diminution in the frequency of this offence continued during the past
year, only 8 cases being discovered, as compared with 44, 31, 16, and 9 in each of the four
years 1902-05. In most cases a re-arrangement of the workers in the workrooms was all that
was required.
Deficient Ventilation.—This is also becoming rarer, only 3 instances having been reported
in each of the last two years, as against 19 in 1903 and 10 in 1904.
Warming.—Hitherto the Department has consistently objected to the use of unventilated
gas stoves, i.e., stoves not fitted with proper flues to carry off the products of combustion, and
a large number of such stoves have been replaced during the past five years by stoves with
flues. During the past winter the subject has assumed another aspect, and must now be considered
as sub judice. No cases of unduly low temperatures in workshops were reported to
the Home Office during the year.

Sickness.—Ninety-two (92) cases of infectious illness were reported on "workshop
premises" of all descriptions, 23 of the cases occurring on premises of out-workers. In 1905
the corresponding figures were 70 and 29, and 1904, 53 and 14. The numbers of cases of the
different diseases which were reported last year are set out below, the cases in out-workers'
premises being indicated in parentheses:—
Scarlet fever 3 (9) Measles 17 (3)
Diphtheria 7 (3) Whooping Cough 4 (—)
Enteric Fever 1(—) Chickenpox 14 (4)
Puerperal Fever 2 (—)
There were 14 deaths from phthisis on such premises, 4 at out-workers', during the year, compared
with 8 and 3 respectively in 1905.
The precautions taken appeared to be sufficient in every case, all the cases of diphtheria
and of scarlet and enteric fevers being removed to hospital. It was unnecessary to put into
force the provisions of Section 110 of the Act.