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still experienced in getting in the lists, and in many instances they are
obtained only after advertising, circularising, visiting, and, finally,
threatening with proceedings.,
A conference took place at the Home Office between the Chief
Inspector of Factories and a number of Medical Officers of Health
on November 6th on the question of the enforcement of the Home
Work provisions of the Factory Act, when the difficulties which
surround this branch of public health work were fully discussed and
suggestions made.
The accompanying table giving the details of the returns made in
Westminster in 1907, shows a considerable increase in numbers over
previous years, thus 654 lists were sent in by employers, as compared
with 318 in 1906, in which year the number of addresses on the lists
was 4,011, and in 1907 7,907 ; in 3,199 instances the persons employed
lived in other boroughs, and the addresses in each instance were
forwarded to the authority to which they belonged; 432 addresses of
persons living in Westminster and doing work at home for firms in
other boroughs were received. It will be noted that the execution of
this part of the Act involves a considerable amount of clerical work, in
addition to the visits, of inspection to the houses. Workers are
frequently in the employ of several firms, so that the number of names
returned does not necessarily coincide with the actual number of
workers. All those living in Westminster were visited, and the sanitary
condition, not only of the rooms occupied, but of the whole house, was
inquired into. The actual number of houses in which outwork is
done is 1,099. 468 notices were served in respect of defects discovered
in these houses. They may be summarised thus :—
Sanitary accommodation— "Walls and ceilings dirty 142
Insufficient 14 Rooms verminous 32
Not kept separate 56 Rooms overcrowded 17
Apparatus defective 42 Rooms badly ventilated 10
Requiring oleansing 42 Gras stoves and heaters unventi-
Ventilation defective 11 lated 111
Drains defective 39 Other defects 84
In 19 instances statutory notices had to be served before the work
required was done. In one instance a Magistrate's Order was obtained
against the owner of the property requiring him to clean walls and
ceilings of rooms. In several instances where the rooms were dirty
or verminous the outworker was seriously warned.
Experience shows that it would be useful for sanitary authorities
to have the power to require the names of persons by whom outworkers
are employed. It has been strongly urged that the workplaces