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Out-workers.—Seventy-nine employers submitted lists in respect of a total of 870 out-workers
(227 contractors and 643 workpeople). Of these, 135 contractors and 211 workpeople carried out the
work in the Borough. The nature of the work upon which the out-workers were engaged is indicated
below:—
Wearing apparel—making, etc. 841
Electro-plate 1
Artificial flowers 2
Carding of buttons, etc. 6
Textile weaving 18
Lampshades 2
Total 870
There was no case of default in sending lists to the Council.
Outwork in Unwholesome Premises.—A firm of confectionery makers with a factory in an adjoining
area was found to be employing out-workers at three separate addresses in the eastern end of the
Borough. These workers were engaged in making wrappings for an effervescing lemonade powder.
All three premises were totally unsuitable for the purpose and the firm was ordered to discontinue
forthwith the employment of these out-workers. This request was complied with. The work was
afterwards carried out at the factory itself, and the manufacturers stated that they had no intention
of employing out-workers in future in connection with any of their products.
Industrial Health Service.—The Prime Minister appointed a committee to investigate the question
of providing a comprehensive industrial health service which, it was understood, would include such
matters as the routine inspection of factory workers, the supervision of factory hygiene and the
conditions under which work is carried out. Metropolitan borough councils already have certain
functions and responsibilities in regard to working conditions in factories, in the exercise of which
they have acquired much local knowledge and experience which, it was felt, could be used with
advantage in any new organisation concerned with health in industry. The St. Marylebone Borough
Council accordingly requested the Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee to make
representations to the Industrial Health Service Committee set up by the Prime Minister to the
effect that, in London, the metropolitan borough councils should be the authorities mainly responsible
for the administration of the proposed service.
Methylated Spirit Drinking.—From reports by officers of the Department it was evident that
drunkenness due to the consumption of methylated spirit was increasing in certain parts of the
Borough. As this was considered a matter of some concern from the public health point of view,
the following report was submitted by the Medical Officer of Health to the Public Health Committee
in October, 1950:—
"During the last twelve months serious disturbances have been caused at the Salvation Army
Hostel, a common lodging house for men at No. 31, Lisson Street, N.W.1, by men suffering from this
form of intoxication. Two or three times a week it has been necessary to call the police to deal with
parties of methylated spirit drinkers whose violence and irresponsibility is a recurring source of
danger to other lodgers and to the hostel staff. An average of fifty men were ejected during each
of the months of May, June, July and August this year—frequently not before there had been a
minor pitched battle. And this takes no account of the many who were refused admission.
"The drinking is usually done in groups in the parks and in the lodging house, and appears to
be confined to those without money for the more usual forms of alcoholic drink. Sometimes cold
black tea is "laced" with methylated spirit to make a concoction known as "Blow Hard." Most
of the men are natives of Eire, are under forty years of age, and are either out of work or else follow
no regular employment. It is not by coincidence if the night following pay day at the Public Assistance
Office and the Employment Exchange proves troublesome at the lodging house.
"Addicts create special problems not only within the hostel itself but also in the surrounding
neighbourhood. When refused admission they cause nuisance by their noise and eagerness to fight
all comers. Footways are defiled by their vomiting and sanitary accommodation is befouled by
their attacks of diarrhoea. Methylated drinkers contaminate cups and glasses by merely drinking
from them. Even bed linen becomes saturated with the persistent and characteristic smell of the
spirit.
"Mineralised methylated spirit, which is the cheapest form of concentrated alcohol available
in this country, can be readily obtained by anyone, without a prescription or a signed order, from
any chemist or oil shop. It is a mixture of ethyl alcohol—the active ingredient of most conventional
intoxicating drinks—with 9.5 per cent. wood naptha and about 1 per cent. pyridine, petroleum and