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72
A marked improvement in the standard of cleanliness maintained in common lodginghouses
in London is observable. Much attention has been devoted by the Council's officers to
the maintenance of these houses in a condition free from noxious insects; particularly may be
mentioned the use of the plumber's blow-pipe, the flame of which is able to penetrate the
interstices of iron bedsteads and of woodwork.
Seamen's Lodging-houses.
During the year, 3,185 visits were made by the Council's inspectors to seamen's lodginghouses.
The new by-laws made by the Council under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, came
into force on the 1st Octobcr. A circular letter enclosing a copy of the by-laws was sent to the
keeper3 of all the known seamen's lodging-houses on the 23rd October.
Customs and Inland Revenue Acts, 1890 and 1891.
Several of the annual reports of the medical officers of health show the number of applications
for certificates of exemption from inhabited house duty, and also the number which were
granted. In Fulham, applications were made in respect of 458 houses, of which 190 were
refused, and the others received certificates, some only on completion of certain specified
works. In Westminster 295 certificates were granted and 90 were refused. In Hackney,
5 certificates were granted. In Shoreditch, 62 applications were received in respect
of tenements, 12 of which belonged to the Borough Council; they all received certificates.
In Bethnal-green the medical officer of health refused all the applications, as in some cases the
buildings did not comply with the requirements of the Act, in others the sanitary condition
was unsatisfactory. In Lambeth, 360 applications were received, of these 12 were refused, 329
were given certificates unconditionally and 19 conditionally on certain sanitary works being carried
out. In Battersea the medical officer of health inspected 64 houses before granting certificates
and refused 32 of the applications owing to the existence of sanitary defects. In Wandsworth,
5 certificates were granted. In Greenwich, 1 application was received, but as the sanitary condition
did not appear satisfactory the certificate was refused.
Underground Rooms.
The annual reports relating to the following districts show that underground rooms
(illegally occupied) were dealt with—
Paddington, 38; Chelsea, 8; Westminster, 25 were vacated during the year and 21 were
"to be dealt with as circumstances arise;" St. Marylebone, 470 inspections were made; Hampstead,
2; St. Pancras, 36; Islington, 57; Holborn, 27; Finsbury, 42; Bethnal-green, 3; Stepney,
86 ; Lambeth, 79; Battersea, 15; Greenwich, 1; Woolwich, 3.
Workshops and Workplaces.
In 1901 the law relating to factories and workshops was consolidated and amended. Under
the previous law the occupier of every factory and workshop was required to keep lists showing the
names and addresses of out-workers employed by him (with the place of employment) in such
classes of work as may be specified by Special Order of the Secretary of State, in addition he is
now required, on or before the 1st of February and the 1st of August of each year to send a copy
of the list to the district council in which the factory or workshop is situated (in London to the
Court of Common Council or the Metropolitan Borough Council). Each district council is to
furnish the name and address of every out-worker included in the list, whose place of employment
is outside their district, to the council of the district in which it is situated. The district
council may prohibit the giving out of work relating to clothes to any persons living in a
house in which there is infectious disease. The district council may also prohibit the giving
out of certain classes of work, specified by Order, to be done in a place which is dangerous and
injurious to the health of the persons employed in it, the prohibition coming into force a month
after notice has been served. The district council is required to keep a register of workshops.
A card must be exhibited showing the number of persons who may occupy a workroom. All
rooms in factories and workshops must be provided with means of ventilation and sufficient
ventilation must be maintained, and the Secretary of State may prescribe a standard of ventilation
in any class of factories or workshops. Means must be taken to secure a reasonable temperature,
which must not interfere with the purity of the air. Where any process is carried on
which renders the floors liable to be wet adequate means must be provided for draining the floor
so far as practicable. Certain exceptions to these requirements are made in the case of domestic
workshops. With respect to underground bakehouses the new law prohibits the continued
existence of an underground bakehouse after the 1st January, 1904, unless it is certified by the
district council to be suitable as regards construction, light, ventilation, and in all other respects.
An underground bakehouse is defined as any baking room which is so situate that the surface
of the floor is more than 3 feet below the surface of the footway of the adjoining street or of
the ground adjoining or nearest to the room. Medical officers of health are required in
their annual reports to their authorities to report specifically upon the administration of the
Factory Act in workshops and workplaces, and to send a copy of the report to the Secretary
of State.
The annual reports of medical officers of health generally show that the supervision of
workshops and workplaces is being performed in a more systematic way, and that in a number