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WORKSHOP SUPERVISION
55
which 283 were forwarded to other districts in accordance with the Act. From outlying
districts, 385 addresses of outworkers resident in the Borough were received, the names of the
districts and the numbers of returns from each being given below.
Kensington 16 Willesden 5 Battersea
Hampstead 14 Hammersmith 4 Camberwell
Westminster 13 Marylebone 3 Holhorn 1 each
Flnsbury 11 Chelsea 2 each Lewisham
City of London 8 Fulham Shoreditch
At the close of the year the Register contained 325 effective entries, comprising
Workshops, 98; "single workers, 227."
Inspections.— The time of the Women Inspectors having been much taken up with visits
in connection with infectious sickness, etc., the number of inspections of workshops (of all
descriptions), fell from 3,258 in 1906 to 2,287. A similar decrease in the number of inspections
was recorded in 1905, when measles was, as last year, epidemic. It is, however, to be noted
that the present condition of the workplaces in the Borough does not necessitate such frequent
visitation as was the case when the work was first commenced.
The Staff measured 150 new workrooms last year, 42 more than in 1905. In 93 instances
the workrooms were found to be used as bedrooms, 7 more than in 1905. "Abstracts" were
found absent in 39 workpremises, each case being duly reported to the Home Office. The
notices served last year numbered 26, as compared with 54 in 1905. The number of notices
does not properly represent the matters dealt with as most of the works required are carried
out on verbal requests of the staff. The defects or infringements of the Act discovered in the
course of last year's inspections are given in Table 36.
Complaints.—The Home Office forwarded 21 complaints during the year (see below),
two more than in 1906, but one less than in 1905.
Home Officp Complaints—
Dirty conditions 7 Insufficient ventilation 3
Overcrowding 2 Other matters 9
From other sources 2 complaints were received, as compared with 4 in 1906 and 7 in
1905. Last year's complaints related to—
Defective water-closet and nuisance from drains, one each.
Overcrowding.—There was a marked decrease in the number of cases of overcrowding,
only 4 instances being reported by the Inspectors and 2 by the Home Office during the year.
In 1906, 8 cases were discovered by the Department and 4 reported by the Home Office. In
1905 and 1904 the total numbers of cases were 44 and 31 respectively.
Deficient Ventilation.—In 1905, 3 workshops were reported as insufficiently ventilated,
in 1906, 3, and last year 4.
Warming.—Although this subject falls under the jurisdiction of the Home Office, the
Inspectors of the Department are required to report premises which are either too hot or
without adequate means of maintaining a reasonable temperature in cold weather. The
latter always receives special attention whenever there is a marked fall in the temperature,
but no infringements of the Act were reported last year and only in 1906. The mildness of
the past two winters undoubtedly has been partly responsible for such favourable results.
One case of excessive temperature was referred to the Home Office during the past year.