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78
VOLUNTARY SANITARY CERTIFICATES FOR KITCHENS AND
ABOVEGROUND BAKEHOUSES.
Certificates of fitness are granted by the Corporation in respect of kitchens
and aboveground bakehouses upon applicants complying with a standard of
sanitary requirements, but up to the present, on account of the stringency of
the requirements, only three such certificates have been granted, viz., two for
kitchens and one for a bakehouse.
Two applications were received during the past year, and one was granted
provisionally on the understanding that the kitchen, when in working order,
was approved by your Medical Officer of Health. The other application was
not proceeded with.
OUTWORKERS.
Very great difficulty has been experienced in getting employers of
outworkers to send in lists as required by the Act, and had it not been for the
vigorous action of the Corporation, most of the persons concerned would
probably have ceased to send them at all.
It cannot be too widely understood by City employers that the lists required
to be sent to the Corporation and kept by themselves upon the premises
where the work is given out are for their own benefit as well as in the public
interest. By this means principally work is prevented from being given out
by employers to or received from premises where infectious disease exists.
For some time past it has been the custom of the Corporation to forward a
printed notice giving necessary particulars to all persons known to employ
outworkers shortly before the lists become due.
The first notices were issued in 1905, when 376 firms were communicated
with ; only 162 replied, leaving 214 who neglected or refused.
In January, 1906, about 600 notices were sent out. It was found that a
number of the firms had ceased to exist, and others had discontinued to
employ outworkers ; but 82 neglected to comply. The matter was referred to
the City Solicitor, who sent a cautionary letter to each, with the result that
lists were subsequently received from the defaulting firms.
In July, 1906, a similar number of notices were again dispatched; 269 firms
failed to comply. The matter was again referred to the City Solicitor, who
succeeded, with the assistance of my Department, in getting lists from all
defaulting firms but one.
The case mentioned above was taken to the Mansion House, when the
defendant was convicted and fined 1l. and 21s. expenses, and afterwards sent
in the required list.