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The principle of extending legislation to institutional laundries has already
been fully reported on in the Annual Reports, 1905 and 1906. As regards
other laundries, the new Act does not make many changes in the duties
imposed on local authorities. Hotel laundries are for the first time definitely
included in the list of premises coming within the provisions of the Factory
and Workshop Acts*, and laundries " in which not more than two persons
dwelling elsewhere are employed " are no longer exempt.
There is likely to be some confusion caused by the provisions of section 3
of the new Act, which refer to " workshop" laundries. Sub-section (6)
requires " in every laundry, all stoves for heating irons to be sufficiently
" separated from any ironing room or ironing table, and gas irons emitting
" any noxious fumes are not to be used " ; and (c) " the floors to be kept in
" good condition and drained in such a manner as will allow the water to flow
" off freely."
A laundry in which there is a contravention of any of these provisions
shall be deemed to be a factory or workshop not kept in conformity with the
principal Act.
This places the duty of carrying out these provisions in the hands of
H.M. Inspectors, regardless of the fact that under sections 7 and 8 of the
Factory and Workshop Act, 1901 (which have not been repealed) contraventions
of the provisions with regard to ventilation and drainage of floors in
workshops are to be deemed to be nuisances liable to be dealt with summarily
under the law relating to public health. And by section 1 of the new Act,
laundries in which no mechanical power is used, are scheduled as workshops.
There are consequently now two authorities responsible for the carrying
out of these provisions.
INSTRUCTION OF WOMEN INSPECTORS IN YIDDISH.
During the year, with the approval of the Court, the two Women Inspectors
(Miss Safford and Miss Pole) have attended classes for instruction in
Yiddish, and the knowledge thus acquired has been found most useful in
carrying out their duties among the foreign Jews dwelling in the neighbourhood
of Houndsditch.
* In a case taken under the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901 (Caledonian Railway Company v. Paterson,
1898, 1 F. (J. C.) 24), it was held that a laundry attached to a hotel was not carried on by way of trade or for
purposes of gain when the following kinds of work were done in the laundry : (a) washing the hotel linen,
(£>) washing the clothes of the hotel servants without charge as part of their remuneration, and (c) washing
the clotheB of visitors to the hotel at high charges.