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44
(d) Sanitary Separate accommodation was provided in 58 per cent.
Accommodation. and in 42 per cent. the accommodation was used
by both sexes.
(e) Washing On the whole these were adequate. In only a small
facilities. percentage were they inadequate,
(f) Mess rooms. As most of our shops are of the small type, very few
were provided with separate mess rooms.
(g) Rest rooms. The same thing as regards mess rooms applied to
rest rooms.
(h) First Aid This was provided in a fair percentage of the
Equipment. shops.
(i) Other Welfare Usually arrangements were made in the larger shops,
Work, though there was none of any description in the
smaller shops.
(j) Seats for female Adequate provision was made in 91 per cent.
assistants.
The general result of the investigation was satisfactory on the whole.
In the Departmental Stores, modern conditions prevailed. The smaller
shops (used by families and an assistant) did not lend themselves to any
scheme for welfare or first aid. The assistant was treated as a member of
the family in a good many cases.
Overcrowding.
One of the most difficult problems to deal with is the abatement of
overcrowding, due of course to the lack of housing accommodation. 80 fresh
cases of overcrowding were found to exist this year, and 43 were abated.
The number of cases must run into hundreds. Exceptionally bad cases
are recommended to the Council and the London County Council for preferential
consideration, very often with beneficial results. The London County
Council advise me of premises or rooms which will become vacated due to
the occupants moving to the London County Council estates and I send
letters to the tenants or owners of the houses, asking them, when they re-let
the rooms, to see that they do not become overcrowded.