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42
manner. I am pleased to say that I trust this object will be attained
at an early date as the Council are about purchasing sites for the
erection of dust destructors.
Factory and Workshop Act, 1901.
Section 132 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, which
came into force on January 1st, 1902 requires that—"The Medical
Officer of Health of every District Council, shall, in his Annual
Report to them, report specifically on the administration of this Act
in workshops and workplaces, and he shall send a copy of his Annual
Report or so much of it as deals with this subject, to the Secretary of
State."
The duties imposed by the Act relate to Factories, Workshops
and Workplaces.
Factories.
Factories include (1) all places in which mechanical power is
used in aid of the manufacturing processes; and (2) all places,
whether mechanical power is used or not, in which the industries
specified in Part I, of Schedules VI to the Act are carried on.
There are thirteen Factories on the Register.
In the case of Factories the Council is charged with the duty of
seeing that every Factory in its District is provided with means of
escape in case of fire.
Under Part III of the Public Health Acts Amendment Act
1890, which is in force in our District, it is incumbent on the Council
to see that every Factory is provided with suitable and sufficient
Sanitary conveniences, with proper separate accomodation for persons
of each sex in accordance with the requirements of Section 22. The
Sanitary accommodation of all Factories in the District has been
enquired into, and I am satisfied that the requirements of this Section
are complied with.
Increased Sanitary conveniences have been provided in the case
of the Factory mentioned in my last Report.
Apart from this provision, the Factory Inspector of the district is
responsible for the sanitary condition of the factories, and he " will,
on finding in a factory or workshop, any act, neglect, or default in
relation to a drain, water-closet, earth-closet, privy, ashpit, water
supply, nuisance, or other matter which is punishable or remediable
under the Public Health Acts, but not under the Factory Act, give
notice to the Council of such Act, etc.; and it will then be the duty
of the Council to make enquiry into the matter, take such action as
may seem proper, and inform the Inspector of the proceedings taken."