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17
During the year I have paid 379 first visits, and 1,895 visits
of re-inspection, to workshops and laundry workshops. I have
also paid 635 calls on miscellaneous business (leaving workroom
cards, making enquiries, etc.) In the course of these visits
I have found many new workshops which had not been notified
to the authorities, and, consequently, had never been visited by
an inspector. No new workroom is placed upon the register
until the premises have been thoroughly examined. If the
sanitary conditions are found to be satisfactory, each room is
measured, and a card issued showing the number of persons
legally permitted to occupy the room according to its cubic
capacity. In the measurement of the larger workrooms, I have
had Mr. Phillips' assistance, and I would take this opportunity
of thanking him for this special help, and also for the benefit
of his ready advice and experience in other matters.
HOMEWORKERS.
In addition to the workshops referred to above, there is a
separate register of those persons residing in the Borough who
are engaged in the making of wearing apparel, upholstery, and
so forth, in their own homes. The number at present on this
register is 255. The premises have been duly inspected, and
those that are unsatisfactory have to be kept under constant
observation. Owing to the passing of the new Factory and
Workshops Act (I. Edward VII., Ch. 22), official supervision
will have to be considerably extended; hitherto it has been
attended with such difficultes that many local authorities have
preferred to ignore their duties in this direction altogether.
During the year I have sent to other Boroughs 159 names and
addresses of home-workers. I have received only about 30.
WORKS CARRIED ON UNDER SUPERVISION.
I have endeavoured to classify, as far as possible, the
nuisances abated and the improvements carried out as a result
of my inspections.
CLEANSING, LIMEWASHING, &C.
The walls and ceilings of 103 rooms have been cleansed.
In many cases (particularly in laundries), staircases, passages,
yards, leading to or adjoining business premises have been
cleansed, lime-washed, and otherwise made sanitary.