View report page

57
Strand.—An inspector was specially appointed for this work. During the year 509 workplaces
were inspected and orders requiring cleansing served in reference to 149 ; in 12 the ventilation was
improved; in 4 overcrowding was abated ; and in a number, sufficient water-closet and urinal accommodation
was provided at the instance of the Board. A list of 244 persons employed as outworkers
in this district was made: most of these persons were engaged in making wearing apparel, their
homes and workplaces were frequently visited, and when necessary the rooms ordered to be cleansed.
The names of many persons employed in the district, but living elsewhere, were sent to the authorities
in whose districts they resided. Similar returns were received from a few other authorities. During
the year, in accordance with the provisions of section 27 of the Public Health (London) Act, notice
was sent to the factory inspector of the district of the employment of 1,105 individuals, of whom 39
were children and young persons and the remainder women.
Clerkenviell.—In this district 22 dirty workshops were limewhited and cleansed.
City.—Communications were received from the factory inspectors relating to 30 cases of notice
given by firms about to occupy premises for manufacturing purposes, to 42 cases of change of premises,
and to 43 cases in which attention was directed to insanitary conditions, the latter including 7 instances
in which female workers were unprovided with separate and adequate water-closet accommodation.
Every defect was at once remedied.
Shoreditch.—Notices were received from the inspector of factories relating to 119 workshops
and factories; in 117 instances works were effected. In many of the cases, in addition to the abatement
of the nuisance complained of by the factory inspector, extensive works were found to be necessary to
put the premises in a satisfactory condition.
Bethnal-green.—A special inspector was appointed for the inspection of workshops during the
year. The number of workshops thus inspected was 1,332, and in 857, insanitary conditions were
found. In 763 cases it was necessary to serve a notice, and in 38 to take out a summons.
Whitechapel.—A tabular statement in the report of the medical officer of health shows that 181
workshops were cleansed, in 203 ventilation was improved, in 99 overcrowding was abated, in 90
additional water-closet accommodation was provided, and in 47 instances the workshop was closed.
Limehouse.—A tabular statement shows that 157 workshops were inspected, and in 17 nuisances
were abated.
Mile-end Old-town.—The medical officer of health states that all the workshops are now in a
very fair sanitary condition, and the occupiers show their desire to conform to the law both as regards
general cleanliness of the premises, and also in not allowing overcrowding to take place. It was
necessary to take proceedings in one instance only, when the occupier was ordered to abate overcrowding
and was fined. The number of workshops inspected was 419; improvements were effected
in respect of ventilation in 2, of cleanliness in 19, of overcrowding in 7, and in respect of water-closet
and urinal accommodation in 26.
Poplar and Bow.—Difficulty was experienced in keeping a register of outworkers, owing to
employers constantly changing their hands. A letter was addressed to the Secretary of State
expressing the opinion that the difficulty would be met if the occupiers of factories and workshops were
compelled to give notice to local authorities of alterations in their lists of outworkers. In 18 instances
increased latrine accommodation was provided, and two workrooms were cleansed.
St. George-the-Martyr, Southwark.—The medical officer of health reports that there are 164
workshops on the register, and that registration has led to the abatement or the removal of nuisances
such as filth, bad ventilation, or overcrowding. Referring to the outworkers' order, he states that all
information supplied by the superintending inspector of workshops was acted upon, but that beyond
this, the order was only partially enforced in the district. He urges upon his authority the appointment
of a special inspector for this purpose. Thirty-two notices were served in connection with
workshops, and in six instances summonses were obtained.
Bermondsey.—" Factories and workshops were inspected, and many improvements in their
sanitary condition carried out." Account is given of the result of inspection of 136 workshops.
Lambeth.—Notices were served in 35 instances for cleansing workshops, and for the remedy of
structural and sanitary defects.
Battersea.—The medical officer of health states that " a very general inspection of the factories
and workshops in the parish has been made during the year." Some 15 premises are referred to in
which works of improvement were effected.
Wandsworth—(Glapham).—Inspection of 49 workshops showed that their "condition generally was
satisfactory, that three required cleansing, and three required additional water-closet accommodation.
(Putney).—All workshops have been duly inspected, three required cleansing and lime washing, and one
was overcrowded. Lists of outworkers have been obtained from all workshops employing the same,
and notices forwarded to the authorities of the districts where the work people resided. No notice,
however, was received from any other authority of work people employed in Putney.
Greenwich.—The number of visits to factories and workshops was 89. Deptford.—Workshops
and factories have received careful attention.
Bakehouses.
During the year the condition of bakehouses in London received the attention of the Public
Health Committee, and I was instructed to report on this subject. Inquiry for this purpose was made
by Dr. Hamer and Dr. Young, and the results of their inspection were embodied in a report which I
presented on 1st February to the Committee. (See Appendix V.) This report was considered by the
Committee, a copy was communicated to the Local Government Board, and the following report was
presented to the Council on June 19th—
Bakehouses in London.
The medical officer under our instructions has submitted to us a report on the sanitary condition of
bakehouses in London. As the report contains valuable information on this important question, we have
had it printed and a copy sent to each member of the Council.
8