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The occupier of every factory and workshop, his agents and servants, shall
furnish the means required by an inspector as necessary for an entry, inspection,
examination, inquiry, or the exercise of his powers under this Act in relation
to such factory and workshop.
Every person who wilfully delays an inspector in the exercise of any power
under this section, or who fails to comply with a requisition of an inspector in
pursuance of this section, or to produce any certificate or document which he is
required by or in pursuance of this Act to produce, or who conceals or prevents a
child, young person, or woman from appearing before or being examined by an
inspector, or attempts so to conceal or prevent a child, young person, or woman,
shall be deemed to obstruct an inspector in the execution of his duties under this
Act, provided always, that no one shall be required under this section to answer
any question or to give any evidence tending to criminate himself.
Where an inspector is obstructed in the execution of his duties under this Act,
the person obstructing him shall be liable to a fine not exceeding five pounds ; and
where an inspector is so obstructed in a factory or workshop, the occupier of that
factory or workshop shall be liable to a fine not exceeding five, or where the offence
is committed at night, twenty pounds, and where an inspector is so obstructed in a
factory or workshop within the meaning of section sixteen of the Act, the occupier
shall be liable to a fine not exceeding one, or where the offence is committed at
night, five pounds.
Factory and Workshop Act, 1895, Sec. 51.
An inspector, if so authorised in writing under the hand of the Secretary of
State, may, although he is not a counsel or solicitor, or law agent, prosecute,
conduct, or defend, before a Court of summary jurisdiction or justice, any
information, complaint, or other proceeding arising under the Factory Acts, or in
the discharge of his duty as such inspector.
It will be observed that London is expressly excluded from Section 3 (2) of
the Factory and Workshop Act, 1891, and that London Sanitary Authorities and
their officers have not the powers of entry, inspection, etc., that sanitary authorities
and their officers in the Provinces possess in reference to workshops, no similar
section to the above having been inserted into the Public Health (London) Act,
1891. So that in London the powers of entry are restricted to those of premises in
general, namely, upon complaint, or to examine water supply and drainage, or to
disinfect.
Therefore, what is wanted is an addition to the Public Health (London) Act,
1891, of a section on the lines of Section 3 (2) of the Factory and Workshops Act,
1891, so as to give to London Sanitary Authorities and their officers proper powers
oE entry into workshops, including laundries and bakehouses.
Laundries.—These are not separately mentioned in the Public Health (London)
Act, 1891.
Bakehouses.—Entry to these premises is obtained under Section 26 (2) of
the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, which applies the provisions of that Act
with respect to the admission of a sanitary authority and its officers into any