View report page

125
shops and houses in which the outworkers are employed, in order
that full effect may be given to the object which Parliament
had in view when passing the enactment under which the
Order is issued." The Board also expressed their "trust that
the Sanitary Authority will co-operate in this matter to the
utmost of their power," and "at once take measures to secure
that the Order is made known to those whom it affects, and
that the Medical Officer of Health and the Sanitary Inspectors
should be instructed, from time to time, to examine the lists,
so that they may become aware of the places in which outworkers
in the trades in question are employed," as it is
"especially desirable that frequent inspection should be made
of these places, so that prompt measures may be taken to
deal with any sanitary evils existing in them."
In reporting upon this subject, I pointed out that the
first duty that would appear to devolve upon the Sanitary
Authority under the Order, was to secure for it that "full
publicity" which the Secretary of State desired, and which
might be attained, by advertisement in the local newspapers,
by the circulation of handbills, and by search in directories for
the names of occupiers of factories and workshops, whom the
Order is likely to affect. The attention of such persons was
sought to be attracted by repeated advertisement of the requirements
of the Order in the local press. It is noteworthy
that neither the Acts nor the Order require the "occupiers"
to make themselves known to the Sanitary Authority.
Sanitary officials, moreover, do not appear to have any power
of initiative under the Order.
It is to be presumed that there are not many, if any,
manufacturers of electro-plate or of files in this parish, and
probably there are not very many outworkers in cabinet and
furniture making and upholstery work. But the number of
outworkers employed in the manufacture of articles of wearing
apparel is no doubt considerable. It is obvious, moreover,