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Out-Workers.—Eighty-two employers submitted lists in respect of a total of 1,178 out-workers (250
contractors and 928 workpeople). Of these, 86 contractors and 122 workpeople operated in the
Borough. The nature of the occupation concerned is indicated below:—
Wearing apparel—making, etc 1,149
Electro-plate 1
Artificial flowers 2
Carding of buttons, etc 6
Textile weaving 18
Lampshades 2
Total 1,178
There was no case of default in sending lists to the Council.
Rag Flock and other Filling Materials.—In July, 1946, the Ministry of Health published the report
of an inter-departmental committee which had been appointed to examine whether the Acts and
regulations governing the use of rag flock in upholstery and bedding were adequate or required
amendment; and also whether or not they should be extended to other filling materials. The
committee considered the existing legislation to be inadequate for securing the proper cleanliness of
rag flock and submitted detailed proposals for new legislation. These proposals are embodied in the
Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials Act, 1951, which came into operation on the 1st November,
1951, and repeals the Rag Flock Acts, 1911 and 1928, and section 136 of the Public Health (London)
Act, 1936. The new Act brings under control and supervision a much wider range of activities than
those covered by the repealed Acts, requiring various types of premises connected with the upholstery
trade to be registered with or licensed by the local sanitary authority. On the application of an
occupier and payment of a fee of £1 the authority are required to register premises on which filling
materials to which the Act applies are used in the course of the business of upholstery or of stuffing
or lining bedding, toys, baby carriages and such other articles as may be prescribed by regulations.
The use of unregistered premises for the purposes mentioned is unlawful. It is also an offence, subject
to certain defences, for an occupier to have unclean materials (i.e., materials not complying with a
standard of cleanliness prescribed for the materials in question) on his registered premises. The Act
applies to such filling materials as rag flock, unwoven cotton, unwoven wool, pit hairs, feathers, down,
kapok, seaweed and straw, but other materials may be added to the list by regulations.
Rag flock may only be delivered to registered premises from premises licensed under the Act for its
manufacture or storage, and it is an offence to supply a purchaser who asks for rag flock from licensed
premises with material from unlicensed premises. The authority, on application from the occupier
of any premises and payment of an annual fee of £1, may grant him a licence authorising him to
manufacture rag flock on those premises for use on premises registered under the Act. Similar provision
is made for the licensing of premises for storing rag flock.
The sale or offer or exposure for sale of articles containing unclean filling materials are made offences
subject to certain defences and exceptions in the case of second-hand articles and for auctioneers
acting as such. Duly authorised officers of the authority have power of entry into and inspection of
premises, and provision is made for the taking of samples of filling materials to test them for cleanliness.
A person guilty of an offence against the Act is liable for a first offence to a fine not exceeding £50
and for a second or subsequent offence to a fine not exceeding £100 and/or imprisonment not exceeding
six months. All offences under the Act may be prosecuted summarily, and a court on convicting
an offender under the Act may order forfeiture to the local authority of any materials or articles
owned by him in respect of which the offence took place. Provision is made for a person summoned
to have brought before the court any other person who he alleges is responsible for the offence in
question, the provisions for this being similar to those contained in the Food and Drugs Act, 1938.
The Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials Regulations, 1951, which also came into operation on
the 1st November, 1951, prescribe standards of cleanliness for each kind of filling material to which
the Act applies. They name the analysts for carrying out tests, and fix the fees which may be charged
therefor. They also prescribe the form in which records are to be kept by occupiers of premises registered
or licensed under the Act.
Towards the end of the year applications for registration of premises in the Borough were under
consideration.
Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Act, 1951.—This Act, which came into force on the 1st October, 1951,
contains new provisions and confers wider powers for maintaining or restoring the wholesomeness
of rivers and other inland or coastal waters. In its original form the Bill provided for the powers to
be enforceable by the London County Council but, following representations, amendments were inserted