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38
In 37 cases it was necessary for the Health Committee to order the service of statutory
notices under the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, which were complied with
without the necessity of appealing to a magistrate.
The number of factories under observation during the year was 24, in connection
with which 9 sanitary notices were served. The sanitary works carried out in connection
with factories included the construction or reconstruction of drains in 3 instances,
the constiuction or reconstruction of water-closets in 8. the disconnection and ventilation
of sink waste-pipes in 2, the abatement of nuisances due to sewage accumulating
in one and to rats in 2 instances, besides other matters. It was not necessary to serve
any statutory notices for the abatement of nuisances in connection with these factories.
During the year 61 lists of out-workers were received from employers in Shoreditch,
13 during the first half-year and 48 in the second. These lists contain the
names of 976 outworkers, of whom 594 were not resident in Shoreditch. The addresses
of the non-residents were forwarded to the authorities of the sanitary districts
to which they belonged. Communications were received from other sanitary authorities
as to 1,877 outworkers who were residents in the Borough, and 122 who were residents
of other sanitary districts. The addresses of the latter were forwarded to the
authorities concerned.
The number of outworkers brought to our notice in 1906 was 2,975, of which
2,259 were residents of Shoreditch. With respect to these figures, it is to be noted that
in many instances the name and address of the outworker is duplicated, owing to lists
of outworkers being sent in twice a year. Moreover, in a number of instances, it
has been observed that the same outworker is employed by more than one firm. The
numbers given above, therefore, are far from representing the actual numbers of individual
outworkers. Some 1,495 visits of inspection were made to places where home
work was carried on, and in 128 instances sanitary notices were required. The
works carried out in consequence thereof included, amongst others, the reconstruction
of drains in 8 instances, the reinstatement of stack-pipes and eaves gutters in 18, the
paving of yards in 17 the reconstruction of water-closets in 10, and in several other
instances repairs in connection with water-closets were effected, 14 houses were
cleansed throughout, and 58 were cleansed in part, and altogether 246 rooms, 31
yards, 4 areas, and 42 water-closets were cleansed and whitewashed; in 24 instances
roofs were repaired, and in a number of others minor sanitary defects received attention
; in three cases ventilation under the floors was provided, and in four instances
overcrowding was abated. Some 539 visits of inspection were required in connection
with the supervision of the works referred to, so that altogether 2,034 visits were made
by the inspectors to premises where home work was done,
A table, which will give an idea as to the distribution of outworkers in the
various classes of work, the number of lists sent by employers, and other information
in respect to outworkers, is contained in the Appendix (p. 64) in a form requested
by the Secretary of State.