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The Bethnal-green, St. Pancras and Woolwich Borough Councils had not replied to the
Council's circular letter at the date of the Committee's report to the Council.
Hence an important beginning has been made of the inspection of places where food is
prepared for sale. The inspection of the kitchens of restaurant's under the powers which at
present exist relates to the welfare of the persons employed therein, and not specifically to the
prevention of contamination of food, but such inspection will contribute to provide wholesome
surroundings for food supplies. Dirty conditions were found and remedied in many places, and
water-closets opening directly into kitchens were in a number of cases abolished. In what proportion
of kitchens the state of dirt was extreme is not generally stated, but Dr. Newman reports
that he found some of the kitchens and cellars in Finsbury in a disgraceful condition.
The proceedings of the London sanitary authorities under the Factory and Workshop Acts,
as shown in the annual reports of medical officers of health, were as follows—
Paddington.—At the end of 1902 there were 1,217 workshops on the register, 800 having
been added during the year. The number of rooms measured during the year was 577. The
number of laundries included in the 1,217 workshops was 316. The number of inspections of the
above premises was 3,G28. Among the conditions found and dealt with were, overcrowding in 44
instances, dirty conditions in 194, deficient ventilation in 14, nuisance from gas fumes in 41, want
of separate water-closet accommodation in 33, insufficient water-closet accommodation in 9, and
wet floors in 10 instances. The number of bakehouses was 80, of which GT were underground.
The conditions required in underground bakehouses for the purpose of certification was under
consideration during the year, and the borough council adopted a schedule of requirements. The
number of refreshment houses and fried-fish shops which were inspected was 15G and 24 respectively.
Various defects were found and remedied. The number of out-workers living in
Paddington was 184; all of these were visited, and nineteen cases of infectious disease occuring in
their houses were notified. The list of notified cases of infectious disease is compared daily with
the register of out-workers. Two female inspectors and one male inspector were especially
employed on duties under this Act. The work was not fully organised until the middle of June,
and hence the above record relates only to a part of the year.
Kensington.—In 1902 there were 1,713 premises on the register, including laundries
and restaurants; in 729 of these workshops, men were employed and in 984, women. During the
year 177 workshops in which women were employed were registered, and 208 workrooms measured.
There were 4,417 workroom inspections where women were employed, and men's workrooms were
inspected from time to time. The number of workshop laundries was 298 and of factory laundries
44. The number of bakehouses was 111, of which 95 were underground. A schedule of requirements
for underground bakehouses was adopted by the borough council. The number of restaurants
and dining-rooms in the borough was 82; a water-closet opening directly out of a kitchen was
abolished and another ventilated directly from a dining-room was reconstructed. Among the
conditions found in workshops and dealt with were overcrowding in 2G instances, defective ventilation
in 26, dirty conditions in 145, and additional water-closets required in 22 instances. The
residences of out-workers in the borough, 222 in number, were visited. Lists of out-workers
were communicated to other authorities. Notifiable infectious diseases occurred in 30
workshops or houses connected therewith, and in 8 houses in which out-workers resided, in 3 of
which the cases occurred in the rooms occupied by the out-workers; the necessary precautions
were taken, in some instances work being stopped until after disinfection. Penalties were
recovered in two instances. Two women inspectors were employed for premises on which women
were employed; with respect to premises on which men were employed, Dr. Dudfield states:
"Considerable improvement with regard to workshop inspection generally took place in 1902,
consequent on the employment of additional male inspectors, which permitted of men's workshops
being brought under supervision.
Hammersmith.—The number of workshops on the register was 955, this number including
321 laundries. In addition there were 64 restaurants, hotels, etc. There were 64 bakehouses, of
which 42 were underground. Requirements as to underground bakehouses were adopted by the
Public Health Committee of the Borough Council in June, 1903. Notices were served as to
insanitary conditions in 77 bakehouses and as to 247 workshops. There were 176 out-workers
resident in Hammersmith. An inspector was specially employed in the inspection of workshops.
Dr. Collier did not feel justified in recommending the appointment of a female inspector for this
purpose.
Fulham.— There were 171 workshops on the register, this number including 37 laundries.
Notices were served in respect of defective ventilation in 12 instances, dirty conditions
in 43, and insufficient provision of water-closets in 18 instances. There were 73 bakehouses in
this district, of which 53 were underground. The Public Health Committee adopted certain
requirements with which underground bakehouses must comply before the Council will be
recommended to grant certificates. The number of restaurants inspected was 26, and notices
were served in nine instances. One female inspector has been appointed since 1902 for the
inspection of workshops and laundries where women are employed.
Chelsea.—The number of workshops registered during the year was 415, and 619 inspections
were made. Notices were served in respect of overcrowding in 2 instances,
defective ventilation in 2, dirty conditions in 66, separate water-closets for the two sexes in 10,
and drainage of floors in 5 instances. There were 47 bakehouses in the district, of which 40 were
underground. The Public Health Committee adopted a schedule of requirements with which
underground bakehouses will have to comply before a certificate will be granted. There were
42 restaurant kitchens inspected; among the conditions dealt with were dirty conditions in 14 and
defective drains in 14 instances. There were 122 outworkers resident in Chelsea; concerning