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19071
212
As these workplaces are more especially under the supervision of H.M. Inspector,
the visits paid were more particularly directed towards the keeping in order of the sanitary
conveniences, but in addition all sanitary defects noticed have been dealt with. These
visits have in most cases been well received by those in charge, who appear to welcome
any official inspection, as being an assistance in the proper supervision of those who are
responsible for these places. A marked improvement in the general condition of the
sanitary conveniences has been noticed in several of the larger factories during the year.
Laundries.—There were on the Register at the close of the year 134 Laundries. Of
these 63 are small workplaces where the work is done by members of the family, occasionally
assisted in the busy time by one or two employees. The other Laundries employ at least
three women, and come under the Factory Acts. Some of the domestic laundries have been
at one time under the Factory Act, and have employed a good number of women, but are
now gradually getting less work and consequently employing less labour, owing to the
competition of the f actory Laundries, which will doubtless eventually absorb all the work.
In fact, already some of the small laundries appear to be very little more than Receiving
Offices, as only part of the work is done on the premises, the rest, which requires special
attention, being sent to some of the larger laundries. The new provisions which have
lately come into force with regard to laundries will no doubt increase the difficulties in the
working of the smaller laundries, where there is little extra space to spare to allow for the sufficient
separation of the stove from the ironing room or table. 1 his, however, is a very necessary
provision, as the ironing room tends to become unduly heated, particularly in summer.
Lven with doors and windows open, it is practically impossible to keep the room at a
reasonable temperature. This condition is aggravated where drying as well as \roning is
done, by keeping windows and doors closed. This, though it retards the drying process, is
necessitated in certain localities and near certain industries by the fact that the clothes
would be soiled by the smuts and dust from the open windows. In some of the smaller
laundries the work is done in basement rooms, where there is not a free current of air,
and where the conditions, without exactly contravening any legal regulations, are anything
but ideal. Some of the larger workshop laundries on the register approximate in their
structure and arrangements to the conditions present in the Factory Laundries, and are
satisfactory as regards ventilation, means of escape for steam in the washhouse, drainage
of iloors, and other details which go to make up an ideal laundry.
Workshops—There weare on the Register at the end of the year 826 workshops,
203 having been added during the year, and 222 removed. They are as follows: —