View report page

99
In 1893, one convenience for women was constructed in Holborn, at which
no free accommodation was provided; but in 1897 the experiment was tried
of providing three free urinettes at the Golden Lane convenience, but these
were eventually removed owing to the impossibility of preventing abuse, and
tree water closets were substituted.
In 1903, your Women Sanitary Inspectors undertook the duty of inspecting
the underground conveniences for women. There were then nine conveniences,
and only at Golden Lane and at Farringdon Street South was
any of the accommodation free. The free closets at Golden Lane had waterproof
curtains instead of doors, and those at Farringdon Street South had
doors without locks or fastenings.
In 1906 the Streets Committee adopted a report of your Medical Officer of
Health and constructed an additional convenience for women, and provided
for free accommodation at each convenience. The free closet at Golden Lane
and Farringdon Street South were at the same time fitted with doors and
locks, and this improvement was found of great assistance to the attendants in
keeping order, besides ensuring privacy for the users.
Another convenience for women was constructed in 1907, and in the
following year two more were added. In 1909 the number was increased
to fourteen, and a fifteenth is now in course of construction.
An enquiry has been made with regard to the action of the Sanitary
Authorities of London on this matter, and it is found that in every district
except Chelsea, some sanitary conveniences are provided, and that in most
districts a certain proportion of the accommodation is free. The exceptions
are Bethnal Green, Greenwich, Holborn, and Wandsworth, where there is
no free accommodation, while in Deptford, Sboreditch, and Stepney, there are
no conveniences labelled "free," but the attendants can allow free use at their
discretion.
BAKEHOUSES IN THE CITY.
On the 29th June last, Lord Winterton addressed the following question
to the President of the Local Government Board:—
"Whether his attention had been drawn to the statements made by
"Drs. Michael, of Camberwell, F. Forbes-Ross, Ryan and others, citing
"cases where infection has been carried through bread sold in chandlers'
"shops and on insanitary and disease-infected premises, or through
"exchanged bread: and if so, what action he proposes to take
"to prevent the continuance of this practice in the future."
Mr. Burns, in reply, said that his attention had been drawn to certain newspaper
paragraphs in regard to this matter, and he undertook to make enquiries
respecting the allegations.