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These special visits also afforded an opportunity for extending and revising
information relating to "factories" in the Borough. Steps are being taken for the
gradual compilation of a register of such places, and at the end of the year 250 factories
had been entered on the register. This number, although small in comparison with
the total factories in the Borough, indicates the variety of works carried on and the
increasing use of premises in the Holborn area for industrial purposes.
The 250 factories include 65 different industries. In 133 cases men only were
employed, in 5 women only, and in 112 both sexes.
The more important industries were :
Bookbinding
Engineers
Jewellers
Metal workers
Printers
Factories Bill, 1924.
This Bill was introduced into Parliament to consolidate, and amend, the law
relating to factories and workshops. In connection therewith I submitted the
following report to the Public Health Committee:—
Distinction between " Factory " and " Workshop " to be abolished.
This Bill abolished the distinction which exists under the present law between factories
and workshops, and employed only one term "Factory," and the provisions of the Hill
applied to factories included under the new and old definitions.
Sanitary control—as now administered.
Under existing Acts the provisions relating to the 6anitary conditions of workshops,
cleanliness, overcrowding, ventilation, and the drainage of floors, are enforced in the first
instance by the Local Sanitary Authority, and not by the Factory Inspectors. In the case
of factories, the Factory Inspectors are responsible. The provisions as to sanitary conveniences
in factories and workshops are also enforced by the sanitary authorities.
Sanitary Authority's control to be transferred to Factory Inspector.
Under the Bill of 1924 all these provisions were to be made enforceable by the Factory
Inspectors, except in any factory in which mechanical power was not used and which formed
part of a dwelling or shop, or which was adjacent to a dwelling house or shop, in the same
occupation. In these instances, which are few in number and of comparatively slight
importance, the local sanitary authority would still have been the responsible administrative
body In other instances, it was proposed that the Secretary of State might arrange for the
enforcement of the provisions of the Act in any factory in which mechanical power was not
used, by the sanitary authority instead of by the Factory Inspector.
Workshops (factories) in dwelling houses. Dual inspection.
Many workshops, which would be factories under the definition of the 1924 Bill, are
situate in or adjacent to tenement houses, although these workshops are not "in the same
occupation" as the part of the house used for dwelling purposes. The enactment of a
measure on the lines of the 1924 Bill would result in inspection and supervision of part of
such houses by the Factory Inspectors, and part by the Local Sanitary Authority.
Supervision of Drainage work—apart from Factory Law.
Under the existing law all drainage work and the construction or reconstruction of all
sanitary conveniences have to be carried out under the supervision and to the satisfaction of
the local authority. The suggested transfer to the Factory Inspector of control respecting the
sanitary condition of factories would not remove this responsibility but might complicate
this important branch of the wor'i of local authorities by unnecessary overlapping.
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