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is not legally "unreasonable" Members of the public who complain to the department usually expect an
official solution but more often than not it is only by unofficial action and the willing co-operation of
factory occupiers that some of these difficulties are overcome.
Basement workrooms present a special problem. Many of these underground rooms would not be
considered fit for human habitation and it is therefore a matter of some surprise and concern that
they are let for use as workrooms. It is hoped that legislation will soon be introduced applying standards
to underground workrooms at least equal to those of the Underground Room Regulations.
Since the end of building control most of the commercial buildings constructed in St. Marylebone
have been designed for use as offices and showrooms. By comparison, it is an obvious disadvantage
to use premises for manufacturing and industrial purposes as the wear and tear of the building is far
greater. However, there is an enormous demand for factory space within the Borough and there is
a need for specially constructed factory units of between 2,000 and 3,000 square feet, with adequate
and suitable sanitary accommodation, washing facilities and welfare services, the availability of which
would reduce the extent of the use of unsuitable premises.
It is most difficult to maintain an accurate and complete factory register (as required by section 8
of the principal Act) as, although factory owners must give to Her Majesty's Inspector of Factories
at least one month's notice of their intention to occupy a factory, there is often delay in transferring
this information to the Borough Council. Section 113 of the principal Act, as amended by section 5
of the 1948, Act, could therefore be usefully further amended by making it an additional requirement
that the Borough Council should also receive one month's notice from the owner of his intending
occupation. This provision would also assist the Borough Council to prevent contraventions of the
Town and Country Planning Acts.
It is interesting to note from the 1950 Census of Distribution published recently by the Board of
Trade that the wholesale trade turnover of the Borough during that year was £175 million, of which
£66 million was for the gown and piece goods trade and £45 million for car parts and office equipment,
thus making St. Marylebone one of London's biggest wholesaling boroughs.
Out-Workers.—One hundred and thirteen employers submitted lists in respect of a total of 982 outworkers
(273 contractors and 709 workpeople). Of these, fifty-seven contractors and twenty-three
workpeople operated in the Borough. The nature of the work upon which the out-workers were engaged
is indicated below :—
Wearing apparel 901
Furs 8
Buttons 32
Umbrellas 3
Household linen 6
Textile weaving 3
Brushes 1
Jewellery 21
Electro-plate 1
Lampshades 4
Artificial flowers 1
Racquet and tennis balls 1
Total 982
Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials.—At the end of the year there remained on the register ten
premises where rag flock or other specified filling materials are used in the manufacture of cushions,
pillows and other articles of upholstery. Five samples of hair, two of coir fibre and one
of washed rag flock were taken and submitted to a prescribed analyst. All were found to comply with
statutory requirements.
The Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials Act, 1951, also requires premises used for the
manufacture or storage of rag flock to be licensed, in respect of which an annual fee of £1 is payable,
but no application in this connection was received.
Fireguards.—The Heating Appliances (Fireguards) Act, 1952, came fully into effect on 1st October,
1954, and from that date all domestic heating appliances exposed for sale, sold, or let under a hirepurchase
agreement or on hire, must be fitted with a guard complying with the Regulations made under
the Act. Thus, heating appliances are now fitted with guards designed to give maximum safety.
Previously the only legislation concerned with fireguards was that enacted in 1933 which, in effect,
made it an offence to leave a child under the age of 7 years in a room with an open unguarded fire if
the child should sustain injury or death through that cause. During 1953 one hundred and ninety-five