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Lambeth.—During the year 105 workshops, including 29 laundries, were added to the
register. The number of workrooms measured was 318. The number of workshops inspected
was 280, and 333 were re-inspected. Among the defects found, among others, were overcrowding
in 4 instances, dirty rooms 208, ill-ventilated rooms 7. In the 105 newly registered workshops
separate water-closets for the two sexes were wanting in 14 instances, and in 3 instances waterclosets
were found communicating directly with the rooms. There were 204 bakehouses in
Lambeth, of which 89 were underground. A schedule of requirements for underground bakehouses
was adopted by the Borough Council in November. All the underground bakehouses
required improvement. The number of kitchens of restaurants, etc., inspected was 225, dirty
conditions and accumulations of refuse were found in many instances. The inspection of outworkers'
premises will be chiefly carried out by the female inspector. H.M. Factory Inspector
was informed of places in which protected persons were employed. One female inspector is
especially employed on duties under the Act in addition to some other duties.
Battersea.—The number of workshops on the register was 454; probably the total number
in the borough is between 000 and 700. There were 1,919 inspections and re-inspections. Among
the conditions found were 127 dirty rooms, 13 overcrowded rooms, 15 instances of laundry floors
requiring drainage, and 37 defective water-closets. The number of laundries in the district was
73. There were S3 bakehouses, 49 of which were underground. A list of requirements for underground
bakehouses was sent to a majority of the occupiers of such bakehouses; in 3 instances
it was found that the bakehouse could not be made suitable, and all others required extensive
alterations. There were 83 restaurant kitchens inspected. Dr. McCleary thinks further powers
are needed for dealing with these places. Information as to 320 out-workers was received, and
particulars concerning 72 were communicated to other authorities. The outworkers' premises
were registered and regularly inspected. Dirty conditions were found and remedied in some of
these premises, and in 2 instances a case of infectious disease led to suspension of work. Information
concerning 82 workshops in which an abstract of the Act was not exhibited, and in which
protected persons were employed, was forwarded to H.M. Factory Inspector. A male and female
inspector were especially employed on these duties.
Wandsworth.—There were 1,257 workshops on the register ; in 328 men, and in 929 women
were employed, and there were 1,842 inspections and re-inspections of these premises. The
number of workrooms measured was 791. Notices to the number of 217 were served, and among
the work done was overcrowding abated in 12 instances, ventilation improved in 11 instances, and
214 rooms cleansed. There were 395 laundries in Wandsworth, 22G of which were workshops or
work places, and the remainder factories. There were 85 restaurant kitchens, all of which were
inspected, and notices served where necessary. The number of bakehouses in the borough was
153, of which GO were underground. A list of requirements for such bakehouses was adopted
and sent to the occupiers. There were 208 out-workers on the register, and their homes were all
visited ; eleven cases of infectious disease occurred in these houses. Information as to the
addresses of out-workers was sent to other authorities. One female inspector was especially
employed on duties under this Act.
Camberwell.—There were 953 inspections and re-inspections of workshops and 420 inspections
and re-inspections of laundries. The number of notices served was 10G. Overcrowding was
abated in 18 instances, an additional water-closet was provided in one instance, ventilation was improved
in 3 instances, and cleansing effected in 28 instances. There were 455 inspections of bakehouses;
the Borough Council adopted a schedule of requirements for underground bakehouses with
which there must be compliance before certification. The kitchens of 50 eating-houses were
inspected; 12 of them were found to be dirty, and in one instance a water-closet opened directly
out of the kitchen. The number of out-workers visited was G47, and in 43 instances the work was
being done on dirty premises; 15 cases of infectious disease was found among outworkers.
Information as to the addresses of outworkers was sent to other authorities. A female inspector
was especially employed on the above duties.
Deytford.—There were 24G workshops on the register, including bakehouses and laundries.
The number inspected and measured during the year was 18G. Among the improvements effected
were overcrowding abated in 10 instances, 2 water-closets were provided, and 3 water-closets directly
connected with workrooms abolished. There were 79 bakehouses in Deptford, of which 34 were
underground, and there were 3G1 inspections of bakehouses. A schedule of requirements with
which underground bakehouses must comply before certification was adopted by the Borough
Council. The number of outworkers on the register was 1G5, and there were 208 inspections of
their premises. The number of "references from other boroughs" was 253, and lists of outworkers
resident in other boroughs were communicated to the authorities concerned. One male
inspector, who also inspects milk premises, offensive premises, canal boats, and purchases
samples under the Food and Drugs Act, is especially employed on the above duties.
Greenwich.—There were 175 workshops on the register, 24 being added during the year,
and the rooms of 97 were measured. There were 186 visits of inspection to these premises. The
conditions dealt with are not shown in the annual report separately from those in other premises in
the borough. There were 18 laundries measured and 160 inspections of bakehouses. A schedule
of requirements applicable to all underground bakehouses was not adopted, but each was considered
on its merits. The outworkers' premises on the register numbered 79; these were inspected from
time to time. Very few employers send lists of outworkers to the Borough Council until such have
been asked for at least once or twice. Dr. Annis states that the 186 visits to workshop premises
are certainly not, in his opinion, as many as the importance of the matter requires, "but, unfortunately,
it is all that the staff have been able to accomplish, with a due regard to the carrying out
of their other work."