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made under Section 7 of the Factories Act, 1937, lay down a
definite standard as regards this matter applicable throughout the
country but whereas it might be thought that the owner of factory
premises should be responsible for providing suitable and sufficient
sanitary conveniences, this responsibility rests upon the occupier
of the factory, except where conveniences are used in common by
several tenants.
Section 8 of the Act states that every district council shall
keep a register of the factories situate within their district. Such
a register has been kept in this Borough for many years, but
advantage has been taken of the instruction given to District
Inspectors of Factories to assist local authorities in compiling their
registers. Arrangements have been made for a periodical exchange
of information between the Council and the District Inspector of
Factories as to any new factories coming to notice and as to factories
which have been closed.
Under Section 9 notice is given to the local authority by the
District Inspector of Factories of any act, nuisance or other matter
in a factory found by him and which falls to be dealt with by the
local authority. Any such matters so reported are investigated
and appropriate action taken, the District Inspector of Factories
being informed of the steps taken in consequence of his notification.
The number of factories on the Council's register at the end of
the year was:—
Factories in which mechanical power is used 1,068
Factories in which mechanical power is not used 382
Total 1,450
The occupations carried on in these factories are shown in the
following tables:—