View report page

69
HOMEWORK REGULATION BILL, 1907.
(Special Report presented to the Council on April 25th, 1907.)
I have to draw (he attention of the Committee to the
Homework Regulation Bill, 1907, which suggests important
changes in connection with the carrying out of the sanitary
administration of the Factory Acts in the Borough, more
especially in connection with Out-workers. It is suggested
in the Bill that all Out-workers are to be certified to the
effect that the rooms they work in are suitable from a sanitary
standpoint for such work, and particularly that they are
adequately ventilated. It is proposed that such certificate
should be renewed every six months and that the issuing of
such certificates should rest with the Home Office, whose
Inspectors would have to carry out the necessary inspection
work which is at present efficiently done in Lambeth
by the Council's Female Inspectors. Indeed, the whole
of the Act is to be carried out by the Home Office
Inspectors. When it is remembered that, in Lambeth alone,
there are already registered a total of 567 Out-workers, a
large army of Inspectors will have to be appointed by the
Home Office, and their duties will tend to clash with those of
your Council's Inspectors. I am of opinion that the six
months' certification of Out-workers will prove both cumbersome
and unprofitable, necessitating a considerable increase
in clerical and routine work, without any corresponding
advantage in improved sanitation; whilst the dual control of
the Home Office and the Local Sanitary Authorities, must,
sooner or later, lead to trouble.
Under the circumstances, I recommend that the Public
Health Committee make a representation to the General
Purposes Committee to the above effect.
Joseph Priestiey.
April 15th, 1907.