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their support of the first Smoke Control Order and from 1st October, when the second Order came
into operation, there was almost total compliance by the occupiers of premises in Lord's Ward. On
2nd July, 1959, the Council made a third Smoke Control Order in respect of Hamilton Terrace Ward.
Subsequently the Order was confirmed by the Minister of Housing and Local Government and it will
become operative on 1st October, 1960. Cavendish Square Ward was surveyed for the Council to
consider making a fourth Order during 1960.
Complaints totalled 186, an increase of 28 over the figure for 1958. Timed observations of dark
smoke were made on 150 occasions and verbal or written warnings were given when the emissions
were excessive.
Notifications of intention to instal new furnaces, as required by Section 3 of the Clean Air Act,
1956, were received in respect of 30 proposals, and twelve applications for the Council's approval
of the plans and specifications were received.
Atmospheric pollution was continuously measured at four sites within the Borough and the
information obtained was sent regularly to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.
The statistics are shown in Tables 15, 16 and 17, pages 35 and 36.
Offices.
Attention has been drawn in previous Annual Reports to the unsatisfactory state of legislation
affecting working conditions in offices and reference was made to the recommendations of the Gowers
Committee concerning the health, welfare and safety of non-industrial workers.
There are some 3,300 office buildings in the borough and whilst there is no evidence of low standards
in these buildings, the absence of adequate legislation makes it difficult to ensure satisfactory
conditions for all those engaged in this class of occupation. It has long been doubtful whether routine
inspection of offices, as distinct from enquiries based upon specific complaints, could legally be made
under the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, and it is hoped that the Gowers Committee
recommendations will soon become the subject of legislation.
Shops.
In accordance with the provisions of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1958,
the duties of the London County Council under section 38 of the Shops Act, 1950, relating to lighting,
washing facilities and facilities for taking meals, were, with specific exceptions, transferred to the
Metropolitan Borough Councils on the 1st January, 1959. There are 2,487 shops in the borough,
including 1,099 food premises, to which regular visits were made and in respect of which six notices
were served.
Factories.
There were 1,974 factories on the register at the end of the year, 41 more than last year. A report
on the administration by the Department of matters under Parts I and VIII of the Factories Acts,
1937-1959, is given in Tables 18 and 19, page 37.
Outworkers.
Sixty employers submitted lists in respect of a total of 553 outworkers (161 contractors and 392
workpeople). Of these, thirty-nine contractors and thirty-two workpeople operated in the Borough.
The nature of the different classes of work and the numbers of outworkers engaged is indicated in
Table 20, page 37.
Fireguards.
Inspections under the provision of the Heating Appliances (Fireguards) Act, 1952, numbered
seventy-two. Of the comparatively few heaters that were found not to comply with the requirements,
the majority were second-hand and the main fault was inadequate guards. Twenty-four notices were
served and in each case the vendors withdrew appliances from sale or fitted new guards and sought
approval before again displaying for sale. No legal proceedings were necessary.
It is to be noted, however, that auctioneers can still legally sell heating appliances which do not
comply with the Regulations unless they do so as agents for someone whose normal business is the
selling of heating appliances. This loophole in the Act leads to administrative difficulties and in some
degree defeats the aim of legislation designed to safeguard the users of these appliances from accidents.