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and sand pit for children, and that the Committee desired me to report upon
the subject from a sanitary point of view on or before the next meeting of the
View Sub-Connnittee on Monday afternoon the 7th October.
I presume that the sandpit is intended for children who have passed the
suckling age, and have not yet reached the compulsory school age, that is
from 1 to 5 years of age, and that the gymnasium is intended for children of
school age say from 5 to 15 years.
With regard to gymnasium for children of school age, in my opinion every
school child should have access to a gymnasium, and if a gymnasium is not
provided in the school attended by the child, it should be provided elsewhere.
Gymnastic exercises are essential to the health of day-school children.
With regard to a sand pit for children before school age unless some person
is appointed to continuously supervise the use of a sand pit so as to exclude
children suffering from suspicious throats, noses and eyes, coughs, colds, and
blights, in a neglected, dirty, or verminous condition, or otherwise undesirable,
and to see that the sand is regularly cleansed or changed, the sand pit may do
more harm than good. The provision of a supervisor is of much more
importance than the mere provision of a pit with sand in it, and the question
of success or failure does not lie in the construction or appliance but in the
management.
§ 5.—FACTORIES AND WORKSHOPS.
Factories.—The Men Inspectors had 356 and the Woman Inspector 108
factories upon the Registers for periodical inspection as to water service,
sanitary conveniences, drainage, and nuisances. During the year 94 and 47
inspections of factories, respectively, were made, and 35 re-inspections after
notices served.
Workshops.—The Men Inspectors had 673 (apart from bakehouses) and the
Woman Inspector 385 workshops (apart from laundries) on the Registers for
periodical inspection. During the year 822 and 154 inspections, respectively,
of these premises were made, and 244 and 6 re-inspections after notices.
Workplaces.—These include restaurant kitchens, cab and omnibus yards,
laundries and domestic workshops, and home workplaces.
Domestic Workshops and Home Workplaces.—The Woman Inspector has
69 of these on the Register, of which 247 inspections and 1 re-inspection after
notice were made. These places vary in number from year to year, and
according to the season of the year.
Laundries.—On the Register are 74 laundries at which the Woman Inspector
made 76 inspections and 1 re-inspection.
Restaurant Kitchens.—Of these the Men Inspectors had 107 and the Woman
Inspector 158 on the Registers. At the former 158 inspections and 91
re-inspections were made, and at the latter 11 inspections and 2 re-inspections.
Bakehouses.—At the commencement of the year there were 173 workshopbakehouses.
Of these and of the three factory bakehouses, and the three
bakehouses in hotels, 322 inspections and 166 re-inspections were made.