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houses a ventilating-hood with a pipe conducting the steam into
the outer air has been-fixed over the copper. Of the 1,318 workrooms
on the Register, 1,004 are lighted by gas, 204 by electricity,
and 110 by lamps. The more general adoption of electric
lighting for workrooms is hindered by the fact that gas has
warming powers which electric lights have not. I refer to the
very harmful practice, so much in vogue, of warming the rooms
by burning gas. I think that, in the interests of the workers,
there should be a definite regulation that, should gas be used
for warming purposes, it should only be through the medium of
properly ventilated stcges.
OVERCROWDING.
Twenty-one cases of overcrowding have been detected during
the course of the year's work. In every instance the nuisance
was at once abated; and after closely watching these places, I
have only to report a second offence in one case.
COMPLAINTS.
Sixty-four Complaints relating to workshops have been
received and carefully investigated. Those regarding overtime
have been forwarded to H.M. Inspector of Factories. Several
anonymous letters have been received, alleging overcrowding 111
the bedrooms provided for the use of the employees in drapery
establishments, etc., but in each case the statements made have
proved, on investigation, to be incorrect.
•
OUTWORKERS.
There are on the Register 184 outworkers 'iving in the
Borough. These have each been visited at least once during
the year, and my visits have resulted in the detection of a large
number of nuisances, some of which I have been able to deal
with myself, and others which I have reported to the District
Sanitary Inspectors. The names and addresses of 204 outworkers
non-resident in the Borough have been forwarded to
the Medical Officers of Health of the Districts in which they
reside.