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Paddington—Notices of 7 new workshops were received from the district inspectors of
factories of the Home Department. " When a workroom is first inspected it is measured, a report on
it entered in a register, and a card issued to the proprietor indicating how many persons may be
employed in it, the card to be hung in the room." The number of rooms so dealt with during the year
was 42. The district inspector of factories forwarded five complaints of insanitary conditions in
workrooms, all of which were remedied by the authority. The total number of inspections was 158.
The medical officer of health expresses the opinion that the seven new workrooms probably do not
represent all the rooms opened in the course of the year, and it is desirable that more inspections
should be made by the vestry's officials. It has been found impracticable to do this owing to other
demands on the staff.
Kensington—The medical officer of health reports that whereas the vestry in 1893 employed
two ladies as inspectors of workshops, workplaces, and laundries where women are employed, they now
only employ one; he states with respect to workshops where only men are employed "nothing has
been done to give effect to legislation in any way comparable with the work carried out by the female
inspectors of workplaces where women are employed. These establishments should be taken in hand,
but it is impossible with the present limited and reduced staff of sanitary inspectors. We do not so
much as know at present the localities of any large proportion of the workshops, no doubt, however,
their whereabouts could be ascertained from H.M. Superintending Inspector of Workshops, were it at
any time put in my power to take up this branch of sanitary administration." At the beginning of the
year 625 workshops, workplaces, and laundries where women are employed, were on the register,
during the year 81 were placed on the register and 43 were removed. Information is given as to the
improvement effected in the premises under inspection.
Hammersmith—During the year 218 notices were served by the vestry's factory inspector, and
as many complied with.
Chelsea—A table shows that 357 workshops were inspected.
St. George, Hanover-square—An inspection was made of all business premises in certain streets
and of others in various parts of the district as the result of special complaints. The number inspected
was 92, these premises contained 164 workrooms, 22 of which were overcrowded, and 30 in a dirty and
unwholesome condition. The sanitary arrangements of 58 premises were found defective, the drains of
29 having to be reconstructed. Cards are exhibited in each room showing the number of persons who
may occupy it.
Westminster—The workshops have been inspected and most of the arrangements were found to
be satisfactory.
St. James, Westminster—A table shows that 56 workshops were whitewashed and cleansed, and
in two overcrowding was abated.
Marylebone—There are 1,095 workshops on the register, in which are contained the address
of the employer, the dimensions of the rooms, the manner of warming, lighting, and ventilation, cubic
capacity, and the legal limit of occupation. The present entries deal with about 5,976 workpeople,
4,465 being females engaged in either dressmaking or matters closely allied to dressmaking.
As many as 256 workshops are lighted by electricity, 91 by petroleum lamps, the remainder by gas.
llampstead—Information is given as to the nature of the business carried on in 238 premises.
All have been inspected, and orders made where necessary.
St. Pancras—The medical officer of health, in discussing the amount of water-closet accommodation
necessary in factories and workshops, states that in St. Pancras one water-closet for every 20
persons has been regarded as the standard provision by the vestry's officers.
Islington—There were 2,741 inspections, and 3,979 re-inspections of workshops, and details
are given of the improvements effected in 2,318 workrooms which were inspected. The vestry employ
a male and female inspector of workshops, whose reports are included in that of the medical officer of
health, who states that "it is a very significant fact, and one which speaks louder in praise of their
work than any comment that can be made on it, that hardly a murmur is now heard from workpeople
as to the conditions under which they are compelled to labour, whereas a few years ago complaints
were very numerous."
Stoke Newington—The factories and workshops have been inspected during the year, and the
list of out-workers kept up to date.
Hackney—The number of workshops registered during 1897 was 153, being an increase of 50
on the number of the previous year. There were 260 defects found to require remedy. A female
inspector was appointed.
St. Giles—The number of premises periodically inspected was 118, and the necessary measures
were taken for removing unsatisfactory conditions.
St. Martin-in-the-Fields—The factories and workshops were duly inspected.
Strand—In this district there are about 600 places where persons are employed in some form of
mechanical labour. The number of inspections was 478, and of visits, 1,295; in 262 instances the
conditions were improved.
Holborn—There is a largely increasing number of factories and workshops in the district; as
many as 1,015 workrooms were inspected in that part of the district east of the Grays-inn-road.
Clerkenwell—In his report to the Council on this district, Dr. Young pointed out the need of a
register containing a list of, and setting out the conditions of workshops. The medical officer of
health reports that this request has now been complied with, a register has been established, and
inspection and measurement of workshops have been effected in a fair number of cases. Cards showing
the number of workpeople legally allowed to be employed in each workshop have been provided.
St. Luke—A systematic inspection is being carried on and a register compiled. There vere
269 inspections of workshops, and 180 unsatisfactory conditions remedied.
City—The Home Office inspector notified 104 premises, 51 about to be occupied as workshops.
Improvements were effected in 34 premises.