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24
Parish of St. George the Martyr, Southwark.
Bakehouses.
During the year 1894 a circular letter was addressed by the Local Government
Board to the Metropolitan Vestries and District Boards as to the enforcement of
bakehouse law. They point out that action may be taken against insanitary
bakehouses under certain sections of the Factory and Workshop Acts. They draw
attention more especially to Section 16 of the 1883 Act, under which an occupier
may be fined up to £5 for repetition of offences. A copy of the circular letter is
appended.
Bakehouses, London.
Local Government Board,
Whitehall, S,W.,
22nd May, 1894.
Sir,
I am directed by the Local Government Board to state that questions have
been raised in Parliament as to the sanitary condition of bakehouses in London
and as to the steps taken by the Sanitary Authorities to enforce the law on this
subject, and that the Board deem it desirable to draw the special attention of Sanitary
Authorities to their powers and duties in this matter.
The Board direct me to point out that under section 26 of the Public Health
(London)-Act, 1891, it devolves on the Sanitary Authority to enforce the provisions
of sections 34, 35 and 81 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1878. and 15 and 16 of
the Factory and Workshops Act Amendment Act, 1883, with regard to cleanliness,
ventilation and other sanitary conditions, with respect to every bakehouse which is
a workshop within their District.
The Board attach much importance to a strict enforcement of these provisions, and
they desire me specially to refer to section 16 of the Factory and Workshop
Act, 1883, which provides that where a court of summary jurisdiction is satisfied on
the prosecution of a local authority that any bakehouse is in such a state as to be on
sanitary grounds unfit for use or occupation as a bakehouse, the occupier is liable on
summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five pounds. The court, in addition to or
instead of inflicting such fine, may order means to be adopted by the occupier within
the time named in the order for the purpose of removing the ground of complaint.
If after the expiration of the time as originally named or enlarged by subsequent
order the order is not complied with the occupier is liable to a fine not exceeding one
pound for every day that such non-compliance continues.
It will be been from section 141 of the Act of 1891 that the term "bakehouse " is
defined as meaning " any place in which are baked bread, biscuits, or confectionery,
from the baking or selling of which a profit is derived."
The Board trust that the Sanitary Authority will give such instructions to their
officers as will ensure that the bakehouses in their district to which the Act applies
will be systematically inspected by them, and that when the statutory provisions are
not complied with the facts will be reported to the Sanitary Authority, and that they
will cause to be instituted such proceedings as may be necessary for a due
enforcement of the law.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
HUGH OWEN,
The Clerk to the Sanitary Authority. Secretary.
At the end of 1894 there were 54 retail bakehouses in your parish, or nine less
than in 1893.