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11
The infant mortality rate has fallen from 150.5 per 1000
births in 1895 to 113.2 in 1904. The birth-rate has gone
up from 26.5 to 33.7.
FACTORIES AND WORKSHOPS ACT, 1901.
FACTORIES.
There are seven factories in the district. These
have been visited and found satisfactory in regard to
means of escape in case of fire and sanitary arrangements.
No contravention of the Act has been observed
in these places.
WORKSHOPS, INCLUDING BAKEHOUSES.
There are 35 of these places in the district.
Generally they have been found in a satisfactory
condition. In a few cases defects were found such as
want of cleanliness, defective ventilation, drainage of
floors, and insufficient air space. Four notices were
served to amend defects.
There are no outworkers at present in this district
who are affected by the Act, and no underground bakehouses.
NUISANCES, &c.
These have been dealt with as they have come to
the Inspector's notice. They consisted chiefly of complaints
of non-removal of dust; dampness through
leakage of roofs and defective guttering and pipes;
accumulations of manure and other refuse ; the keeping
of animals in a dirty neglected state ; overcrowding ;
stagnant water. &c.
Forty-two rooms were fumigated, stripped, and
cleansed, and five infected articles burnt. Fifty-three
house inspections were made, and seven caravans
" moved on." The Mortuary has been used for three
cases.
Dust is collected fortnightly for nine months, and
weekly during July, August, and September.
The houses referred to in my last Report as being
in a very dilapidated state, hardly fitfor habitation, have
now been put into good condition. There is, however,
another colony of houses in the same road which are in