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142
Of "workshops" thus defined, there must be a considerable
number in this large parish which will have to he inspected and
supervised.
The same (93rd) section defines the meaning of the expression
"non-textile factories" also; but, as in this parish there are few if
any such " factories," other than bakehouses, I need not recite the
definition. Enough, moreover, has been said to show what a very
considerable duty has been cast upon the Vestry and their officers by
this new factory legislation, and to indicate that, just as in the Public
Health (London) Act, 1891, power is given to the County Council to
supersede a defaulting Sanitary Authority at the cost of that Authority,
so in the Factory and Workshop Act, 1891, a like power, in like
circumstances, is given to the Factory Inspector to supersede the
Sanitary Authority, either on his own initiative, under section 2, or at
the bidding of the Secretary of State, under the first section.
THE VESTRY AND THE NEW SANITARY
LEGISLATION.
At a meeting of your Vestry held on the 28th day of
October, I was requested to bring up an estimate of the probable
cost of carrying out the provisions of the new Public Health
Act in this parish. I had summarised the leading provisions
of the Act in my tenth monthly report submitted on that day,
and pointed out that "many new and onerous duties had been
imposed by the Legislature upon the staff in my department."
In continuation of my summary of recent sanitary legislation, I
dealt in my eleventh report (submitted November 25th), with
the Factory and Workshop Act, 1891, pointing out that it also
" imposes some new and important duties on Sanitary Authorities
and on their officers, who will have to perform a variety of
functions heretofore discharged by Factory Inspectors," and
stating that it remained for your Vestry to "consider and
determine what are the steps proper to be taken for the
discharge of those new duties." These reports were referred to
the Law and Parliamentary Committee "to consider what steps