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received alleging insanitary conditions in premises where women work have been
investigated by your Women Inspectors.
Towards the end of the year arrangements were made with the London County
Council (being the Local Education Authority in the City), whereby action taken by
them under the Children Act, 1908, in connection with the compulsory cleansing of
school children living within the City is notified to your Medical Officer, in order that
the homes of the children may be inspected, and if necessary, may be disinfected, under
powers conferred on the Corporation by the London County Council (General Powers)
Act, 1904.
The children concerned live almost exclusively in tenement houses, which are
under regular inspection by the District Inspectors. The matter is to a great extent
one of personal hygiene, and there is usually an infant in the family who is visited by
the Inspector working under the Notification of Births Act ; it would therefore seem
desirable that your Woman Inspector who already visits the homes in connection with
infants should undertake the new duties in connection with the older children.
UNDERGROUND WORKROOMS.
As I stated in my last Annual Report, further restriction upon the use of
underground workplaces is, in my opinion, necessary, and the compulsory notification
of their establishment, as obtains in the cases of factories and workshops, would be a
step in the required direction.
This matter is an important one, as affecting the preservation of the health of workers
in underground premises, and it must be obvious that some higher standard should be
required than obtains in the case of aboveground workrooms, which have the advantage
of light and ventilation.
I understand that the Women's Industrial Council are promoting a Bill dealing
with the subject, which will be introduced into the House of Lords by the Duke of
Devonshire early in next session.
The Bill, if passed as framed, will greatly increase the powers and duties of the
Corporation in connection with underground workplaces.
It is entitled "The Factory and Workshop Act, 1912," and its provisions are as
follows :—
1. (1) Save as in this Act provided, no underground premises shall be used for the purpose
of a factory, workshop, or workplace, for an}' business, process of trade, or manufacture
specified in the First Schedule of this Act unless they were so used at the time of the
passing of this Act.
(2) On and after the first day of February One Thousand nine hundred and thirteen, no
underground factory, workshop or workplace shall be so used, unless duly certified by the
District Council to be suitable, regard being had to the nature of such business, process
of trade or manufacture.
(3) For the purposes of this Act underground premises shall mean any premises any
part of which is so situate that the surface of the floor is more than three feet below the
surface of the footway of the adjoining street, or of the ground adjoining or nearest to
the room.
2. (1) Underground premises shall not be certified by the District Council as suitable
unless the Council are satisfied that such underground premises are suitable as regards
construction, natural lighting, the maintenance of a reasonable temperature, ventilation,
freedom from damp, and in all other respects.