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satisfactory in respect of lighting, warming, ventilation and, in some cases, aerial disconnection from
water closets. Dr. Parkes expresses the opinion that regulations should be made by the Secretary
of State prohibiting the use of underground rooms unless they complied with certain conditions,
and he indicates the conditions which should be required. Such regulations would undoubtedly serve
a useful purpose. Among improvements being effected in London is the abolition of gas stoves having no
flue for the removal of the products of combustion. "Unventilated gas stoves" according to Dr.
Reginald Dudfield, "are gradually being banished from workshops of all classes" in Paddington.
Laundries are also stated to be in better condition in London than formerly, but Dr. Harris, in
writing of laundries in Islington, compares the requirements for factory laundries with other laundries
and says "At present the owner of a factory laundry must provide a fan or its equivalent to regulate
the temperature of the ironing room and to carry off steam in the wash house, and he must keep all
stoves for heating irons away from the ironing rooms. Regulations cannot be enforced in hand
laundries. The workers in the ironing room often work in a temperature which has been greatly raised
by the presence of unscreened stoves for heating irons." This-, he points out, calls for remedy.
In August, 1905, an Order was made by the Secretary of State which had the effect of extending
the requirement of section 107 (relating to lists of outworkers), of section 108 (relating to employment
in unwholesome premises) and of section 110 (relating to the prohibition of homework in places where
there is infectious disease) to the following trades—
The making of covers for, and the covering, finishing, altering or repairing of, umbrellas, sunshades,
parasols, and articles of a similar character, and any work incidental thereto;
The making of paper bags and of paper boxes ;
Brush making; and
The making of stuffed toys.
In addition to the object for which this Order is made, Dr. Newman states that this Order
has been found in Finsbury to have had an effect beyond that for which it was designed, inasmuch as it
has been the means of the discovery of a considerable number of small workshops and workplaces
which would otherwise have escaped detection.
The number of outworkers was 34,579 in 1904; and 38,798 in 1905 inasmuch as the figures shown
in the table are the total of the two half-yearly lists required to be sent by the Act, these figures will
require to be divided by two to show approximately the actual number of outworkers notified to the
sanitary authorities. The annual reports show that difficulty is still experienced in obtaining the
necessary lists from employers, but Dr. Collingridge states that satisfactory results have followed in
the City from the sending to employers, shortly before the lists are due, a letter reminding them of
their obligations. Further difficulty also results from inaccuracy in the lists of information as to
addresses of outworkers, leading to waste of time of the officers who visit the outworkers' homes.
The co-operation of employers is evidently much needed in this matter.
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