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93
profits quite beyond the range of their competitors who put only
washed flock on the market.
Many traders who admit the dangerous, offensive and repulsive
character of dirty Rag Flock have been compelled to use it or face the
alternative of the Bankruptcy Court.
Fortunately this particular business is now likely to be so restricted
as to make it unprofitable to carry it on in the future, but to those who
are about to furnish, and to those who are furnishing, I would give the
advice to see to it that no flock of any kind which is not guaranteed to
be of the prescribed standard of cleanliness finds its way into their
home, and to those who have furnished, I would say if you have any
article which contains flock the purity of which is questionable, have it
destroyed without delay.
There is no Rag Flock actually manufactured within the Borough
of Hampstead, but certain upholsterers possess machines for re-carding
old Flock.
Cinematograph Theatres.
There are now six cinematograph theatres in the Borough. During
1912 one of these has been remodelled and proper sanitary conveniences
provided for use of the staff and patrons. A new theatre has been built
in Maida Vale and is of a very elaborate character, having seating
accommodation for about 1,450 people. Arrangements are made in
these theatres to protect the audience against fire, for the proper
ventilation of the building, and proper sanitary conveniences are
provided, but it is regrettable that no provision exists which compels
these places to be so constructed as to admit sunlight during the hours
when the performance is not in progress. These theatres differ from
ordinary places of amusement in that they possess little or no provision
for the admission of daylight, that the performances are continuous,
and that the audiences—consisting largely of juveniles—is continually
changing. Such conditions must make for bad hygiene, and, speaking
from a public health point of view, I consider it most essential that
these picture houses should be, during some part of each day, subjected to
the sterilizing effect of sunlight.
Of the beneficial effect of this latter there can be no doubt, and the
composition of the audiences at these cinematograph theatres is such as