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Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health,—1893. 71
authorities found they could not undertake the work as they had too much to do
already, so that from 1883 till quite recently no thorough inspection of bakehouses had
been made, and now although the Home Office Inspectors work in harmony with the
local authorities in carrying out the work of inspection, he was of opinion that until
the Act of 1883 had been abolished and a new one passed on the lines suggested by Dr.
Waldo the result would not be entirely satisfactory. He pointed out that in Glasgow
and Belfast the sanitary condition of bakehouses was all that could be desired, and yet
in London there was scarcely any underground bakehouses that could be said to be so.
The master of a bakehouse was frequently a representative of the miller or contractor
under whose thumb he was. He submitted that the hours were too long. Why
should the men work 16, 17, and 18 hours out of the 24? In this matter inspectors
had power to prevent young persons being overworked but they could do nothing for
the men, who, if they refused these hours, must in consequence suffer a loss of wages.
He hoped that we should soon have such legislation for bakehouses as would ensure
their being built on hygienic principles.
"Mr. John Blandy (London) objected to the lecturer's use of the word cellars as
applied to underground bakehouses, he considered they should be termed basements.
If basement bakehouses were done away with, why not also basement kitchens and
basement factories and workshops? And if all basement establishments were
abolished, how would the owners manage as to rent, having regard to the great value
of land in London? He believed that attention was wisely directed to pure air and
good ventilation, but thought it would be a great mistake to abolish basements;
far better retain them and make their sanitary condition proper and clean. He could
not agree with Dr. Parkes as to germs being killed by being sterilised in the baking.
He considered that cleanliness was to be aimed at, whether above ground or below.
"Mr. T. A. Garniot (London) said that the case mentioned by the lecturer was not
the first action under the Act. The Vestry of St. Marylebone closed a bakehouse some
time ago for a period of six weeks, and obtained penalty under the Section; and in
September last they obtained a closing order under the Public Health (London) Act
1891, until the Vestry's notice to put the premises in a sanitary condition had been
carried out. He thought that everybody would agree to the abolition of underground
bakehouses, especially if they could see the unhealthy conditions under which the men
employed in them had to work, in comparison to the advantages obtained in those
built above ground.
"Mr. B. A. Prain (London) said that cellar bakehouses, or as he preferred to call
them, basement bakehouses, contained the oven and were not damp. He entirely disagreed
with the assertion that a great deal of the baking business was in the hands of
the millers. He said that in London want of room was a great difficulty, and that if
underground bakehouses were done away with, he failed to see where the necessary
ground for the bakehouses was to be obtained. Under the present system of short
leases, a baker could not afford to build above ground, as the landlord would in consequence
raise the rent after the expiration of the lease. He had done his best to advocate
cleanliness, but if underground bakehouses were done away with, the baking trade,
except the large factories, would be done away with also.
"Mr. Thornton (London C.C.) asked the lecturer if he had suggested to his local
authority to communicate with the Local Government Board, urging the amendment
of the law relating to bakehouses, as he knew Dr. Waldo had taken more interest and
trouble in the matter than anyone else. The evils were only too apparent, even bakers
themselves deplored them. He could not agree with Mr. Lakeman as to the Act of
1883. It was not a matter for surprise that the Vestries had taken no action. They
were largely composed of interested property jobbers and those interested in the business,
and it was owing to this that nothing was done, and not from want of time.
There was not sufficient interest taken in the representation of the Vestries. He did
not think the matter should be handed over to the London County Council, but rather
that the Local Government Board should provide regulations which should be enforced