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1475. These include the outworkers supervised by both the male
and female inspectors. The number of female outworkers far
exceeds that of the males.
The total visits paid to the outworkers premises during 1905
was 682, in 1906, 829, and in 1907 (11 months of the year) 850.
I submit a table (Table 44.) of the number on the register and
the individual visits for each ward of the Borough. I have also had
taken out every visit made to an outworker, with the month in
which the visits were made. It will be seen that the visiting has not
been carried on in a regular and systematic manner. On looking
through the the lists of the premises it will be readily seen that many
of those on the register have not been visited for two or three years,
and it is only fair to assume that some of them have ceased to be
outworkers for some time, or have gone away, as their names do
not appear on the official lists.
In my opinion it is essential that there should be a report made
from time to time by the officers in charge of this work, whether
that time should be every three or six months is a matter for
consideration.
The gross number of outworkers, 1475, now found on the
register would be, I am sure, materially diminished by such regular
inspection.
The visiting of outworkers is a very important matter and ought
to be conducted in a more systematic manner.
Some of these outworkers, especially those making clothing,
might be the means, if the work is conducted under insanitary
conditions, of propagating disease.
It has been suggested that the Home Office should take over
this work of supervision, and that a certificate should be given once
a year when the premises are in a healthy condition. I think our
Council should aim at something Iike this method, a certificate to be
given once a year and a report made, either every three, or six
months, to the Committee on the state of these places.