View report page

61
working in a room in which there should have been 6 only; the
overcrowding was abated by the opening of a second work room.
Among the miscellaneous workshops registered are 10 furriers and
15 hairdressers and wigmakers. Their hygienic condition was found
generally to be inferior. The furriers' shops, with one or two notable
exceptions, were dirty, and both employers and employed did not seem
to appreciate either the possibility or the desirability of keeping the
rooms clean. With regard to hairdressers and wigmakers there is
special difficulty to maintain proper ventilation, from the use of gas
stoves, steam drying ovens, &c.; as a result the physical condition of
the workers is unsatisfactory.
Government Buildings.—The attention of the Home Office was called
to complaints which reached this Department with reference to the
Royal Army Clothing Depot. It was alleged that rooms were dark and
badly ventilated, over-heated, and that gas stoves were constantly being
burned in them, and that several of the rooms were very dusty
Complaints were also made that men in one department had to leave
these hot rooms and drive on waggons to Woolwich and elsewhere, and
caught cold through being exposed to such alterations of temperature
Most of these complaints emanated from persons employed in the
factory who had contracted consumption, which they attributed thereto
The local authority has no jurisdiction in Government buildings, but
from information which has reached me, and from an answer to a
question in Parliament, I am led to believe that the conditions have
been materially improved.
Numerous interesting instances of infringements of the Acts might
be quoted, and the excuses which are offered in extenuation. Many of
the foreigners who live in Westminster have been accustomed in their
native land to disregard matters which are looked upon as necessary in
this country, and it takes a little time to educate them on the subject,
but as a rule they have a respect for the law once they know it.
The high value of land and property in Westminster leads to
overcrowding. Persons take a tenement at a high rent, and in
order to cover expenses sublet or take in lodgers; thus in one set of
tenements I found that there were a workroom, bedroom, kitchen and a
small slip or box room ; each of these was occupied at night by a number
of adult persons. Legally there was no overcrowding, but the rooms were
certainly over-occupied. In one instance one set of lodgers occupy the
beds during the day, while another set occupy them at night.
In a vault extending under a main thoroughfare 45 men were found
employed addressing envelopes. Supposing the place had been suitable
otherwise, there was room for 17 only.
Outworkers.—Firms giving out work in certain trades are required