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61
TO THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS
of the
Walthamstow Urban District Council.
Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present to you my report on the work
carried out through my department during the year 1908.
The work of the department, once almost solely engaged in the
remedying of nuisances complained of by occupiers, becomes year by
year more varied, and what formerly almost constituted the whole, and
still demands as much attention, becomes a smaller and smaller section.
Work in connection with infectious disease, unsound or adulterated
food, workshops and special premises all grow apace, in some cases at a
remarkable rate; and it is only just that I should acknowledge the loyal
and zealous co.operation I have received from my assistants Messrs.
T. J. Barnes, F. Sendell, and J. B. Pointon, without which the work
could not have been satisfactorily dealt with.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
W. W. WEST, Asso. San. Inst.
Inspector of Nuisances.
Factories and Workshop Acts.—The work devolving upon this
department in connection with these Acts increases yearly by leaps and
bounds.
Outworkers.—There were on the 1st of January, 1903, 501 Outworkers'
premises on the register. During the year 229 have been struck
off the list, the occupiers having moved away or ceased to take in
work, this leaves on the Register 272 outworkers from the year 1902, as,
however, 315 new ones have been added, the total on December 31st is
587 ; these 816 premises have had to be visited in the course of the year,
to make the list complete, many of them several times. The work is
further complicated by the great number of incorrect addresses sent to
us from other districts, by the unwillingness of many to have it known
that they take in work to do, which leads them to give an incorrect
(perhaps a maiden) name to their employer, and to deny to us
knowledge of anyone of that name living in the house, and by the constantly
moving habits of the class from which they are mostly drawn.
The lists from which these names are taken are sent to us in accordance