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Breaches of the Act, consisting principally in want of
cleanliness as regards the walls and ceilings of the kitchens,
were remedied without delay.
The number of bakehouses on the register is now 28, an
addition of one, and the underground bakehouses, three in
number, are still in use.
During the investigation of a case of Diphtheria,
removed to hospital, it was discovered that the occupier of
the house was employed as an outworker for a local trader
in wearing apparel, although no work was on the premises
at the time of the infectious illness. No list of persons so
employed had been received from the employer, and a
communication was therefore immediately despatched
directing his attention to the requirements of the Act. In
the absence of a prompt reply the neglect was reported to
the Sanitary Committee, who instructed the Town Clerk to
take such steps as were necessary to enforce compliance
with Section 107 of the Act. After the final request the list
was eventually received, and the employer warned.
The two instances mentioned in the Table where homework
was being carried on in unwholesome premises have
reference to the dirty condition of the walls or ceilings of
the rooms in which the work was carried on. These were
cleansed immediately notices were served on the owner.
In addition to the ordinary inspections made of outwoikers'
premises, each address contained in the lists
received in the early part of the year, i.e., previous to
February, and not included in those received in August,
were visited in order to ascertain if work was still carried
on, and if breaches of the Act had been made by reason of
the employer failing to notify the name and address of the
outworker. In no instance was this found to be the case.
The workshops and workplaces, etc., inspected were,
generally speaking, found to be well kept, and earnest
endeavours made by the occupiers to comply with the
requirements of the Act. Where any defects or nuisances
were found to exist, measures were taken by the occupiers
to remedy the same promptly, and in no case was it
necessary to resort to legal proceedings.
Water Supply. Last year I called attention to the
serious inconvenience and risk to health caused to the
occupiers of certain houses in consequence of the delay of
the Water Board in reconnecting the water supply which
had been disconnected on account of leakages in communication
pipes.
Strong remonstrances on the subject were addressed to
the Water Board, who promised that everything possible
should be done to prevent a recurrence.
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