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79
A large amount of clerical work was involved, including the keeping of Registers
of workshops, &c.; records of sanitary work done and nuisances abated; diary;
writing reports on various subjects ; and correspondence.
The above-mentioned duties have since been continuously carried out, and each
year fresh fields of work have presented themselves.
Thus in 1903 the inspection of—
(1) Offices where women clerks were employed,
(2) Outworkers' premises, and
(3) Domestic workshops, were added to the list.
In 1904, owing to the large number of workshops and factories where women
were employed, which were t'ound to exist in the City, it was decided to appoint a
second woman inspector, who began work in January, 1905. In this year the number
of inspections and re-inspections of factories, workshops, and kitchens more than
doubled the number carried out during the preceding year, and the inspection of underground
conveniences for women was begun, and reports thereon were furnished for the
information of the Streets Committee.
The year 1906 saw the beginning of a new and important branch of public health
work, which aimed at the reduction of Infantile mortality. The duties involved were
assigned to Miss Pole, who had had previous experience in this capacity. Lists of all
the infants born within the City were compiled from the Registrar's Returns, the
mothers were visited, and advice was given as to the feeding and care of the children.
Attention was given to the sanitary condition of the house, and any defects found were
referred to the Inspector of the District for remedy.
The value of this initial work cannot be over-estimated.
Miss Pole's devoted work among the mothers was greatly appreciated by them
and will have a lasting effect.
Her retirement in November, 1911, was a real loss to the Department, and the
work she carried out so well has laid the foundation for subsequent development.
The inspection of factories, workshops, kitchens, and offices was continued as in
previous years, and the ladies' waiting rooms at railway stations and the underground
conveniences for women were inspected four times during the year instead of twice.
In 1907, a Select Committee of the House of Commons sat to consider and report
upon the conditions of labour in trades in which home-work is prevalent, and your
senior woman inspector, Miss Safford, was authorised to give evidence on behalf of the
Corporation. A precis of the evidence given appeared in my Annual Report for that
year.
The ordinary routine inspections and re-inspections of premises where women were
employed were kept up, as well as the work in connection with infants.
The Notification of Births Act, 1907, came into force on the 19th February, 1908,
and greatly increased the clerical work. A list of all the births notified was required
to be sent to the London County Council weekly, and duplicate lists to the Registrars
at the close of each month. A considerable amount of correspondence was entailed in
calling the attention of doctors and mid wives to their obligations under the new Act.