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68
The large number of persons employed as outworkers indicates an
improvement in these trades during the year.
After adjusting the lists, it appears that the actual number of outworkers
resident in Westminster is 1,403 (in 1922 the number was
1,311 and in 1923, 1,278); this is less than the apparent number shown
on the accompanying table, as more than one employer may send work to
the same person. The number of houses in which out-work is carried on
was 748. These premises have been visited specially by the woman
sanitary inspector, and also by the male inspectors in the course of
their ordinary work. Defects relating to cleansing of walls or defective
or insufficient W.C. accommodation, unventilated gas heaters, dirty floors,
presence of bugs, &c., were found and amended in a number of
instances. No prosecutions were taken for doing outwork in unwholesome
premises (Sec. 108) or in infected premises (Sees. 109, 110).
Factories Bill.—A Bill to amend and consolidate the enactments
relating to factories and workshops was introduced into Parliament,
but further consideration was adjourned. While in some respects it is
an advance on existing legislation, in one respect at least it introduces
a retrograde proposal to centralise all the work and to make the provisions
enforceable by the Factory Inspectors, except that in any factory
in which mechanical power is not used, and which forms part of a dwellinghouse
or shop, certain provisions in Part I are to be enforced by the
sanitary authority ; and in the case of any other factory in which mechanical
power is not used the Secretary of State may make arrangements for
the enforcement of the provisions by the sanitary authority instead of
the Factory Inspector.
The Public Health (London) Act, 1891, gives power to the sanitary
authority to deal with " Any premises " which includes all factories and
workshops, and any attempt to take away this power should be opposed.
It is desirable that similar power should be given to local authorities
in the rest of the country.
There are other proposals in the Bill which are unsatisfactory, thus in
Parts III and IV there are certain provisions which ought to be enforced
by the sanitary authority, viz., Clause 38 (supply of drinking water),
Clause 39 (washing facilities), Clause 41 (facilities for sitting), Clause 42
(accommodation for keeping and drying clothing), Clause 47 (prohibition
of spitting), Clause 54 (night work in bakehouses), Clause 58 (underground
rooms), Clause 60 (laundries).
In Part V, notification of cases of industrial poisoning has to be sent
to the Factory Inspector. He should be required to furnish copy of
same to the local sanitary authority.