View report page

6
to be given at an earlier period than is at present possible, but it is of
(at least) equal importance that the health and welfare of the
prospective mothers should receive more care and attention.
The inspection and supervision of workshops and of home-workers is
now much more fully undertaken since lady sanitary inspectors were
appointed. Numerous difficulties occur in obtaining the addresses
of workers. A conference took place at the Home Office on the whole
question, when the difficulties experienced in carrying out the homework
provisions of the Factory and Workshops Act were discussed with
the Chief Inspector.
An inspection of licensed premises in 1906, revealed the existence
of so many defects that it was deemed advisable to have the kitchens of
the many restaurants and hotels in Westminster examined. An
Inspector was set aside for this purpose, and the results of his work are
given in detail. The defects discovered and the improvements which
have been effected, not only structurally, but in the better and cleaner
methods of storing and keeping food, amply justify the appointment.
The inspection and examination of food has been maintained;
the Public Health Committee attach special importance to the necessity
for a supply of milk which shall be pure and unadulterated. Particulars
of the prosecutions and other proceedings are appended.
Some years ago the City Council suggested to other Metropolitan
Boroughs the desirability of taking steps to have the qualification
"black" omitted from the section of the Public Health Act which
deals with smoke nuisances. Apparently they did not then appreciate
that as much nuisance might be caused by brown or yellow smoke as
by black, and little support was given to Westminster in the matter.
The failure of a neighbouring borough to obtain a conviction against a
company producing electric power, on the ground that the smoke was
not black, accompanied by the payment of three hundred guineas costs
to the company, has once more directed attention to the matter. It
appears to have been contended that the whole construction of and
method of using the generating station were as perfect as human
ingenuity could devise. It was also represented to the magistrate that
the conversion of the underground railways from steam to electric
traction has conferred inestimable benefits on the inhabitants of London.
As Westminster suffers to some extent from the smoke given off from
the chimneys of this generating station at Lot's Road, it is of interest
to observe in the report of the Public Health Board of New York for
1905, that generating stations there are even more perfect in this
respect than is the Chelsea one, in that they do not give off smoke at
all. The report says: "In the Borough of Manhattan at the present
time there are six large power houses consuming an enormous quantity