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wholesale, but by retail, in some shop or place occupied with the bakehouse. The medical officer
of health is, for the purpose, given all the powers of entry, inspection, taking legal proceedings,
and otherwise of a Factory Inspector.
Further, new duties of great importance are placed by sec. 101 of the Act on District
Councils in regard to underground bakehouses: —
(i.) The Act provides generally that no underground bakehouse (whether factory or
workshop) shall be used as such unless it was so used on the 17th August, 1901.
(ii.) Moreover, after 1st January, 1904, it will not be lawful to use any underground
bakehouse (whenever established) unless the Council are satisfied that it is suitable for the
purpose In regard to construction, light, ventilation, and in all other respects, and have given it
a certificate of suitability. This provision will apply to all bakehouses, whether factories or
workshops and whether wholesole or retail. Every bakehouse will be deemed an underground
bakehouse if any room used for baking, or for any process incidental thereto, is so situate that
the surface of the floor is more than 3 feet below the surface of the footway of the adjoining
street, or of the ground adjoining or nearest to the room. An underground bakehouse used in
contravention of these provisions will be deemed to be not kept in conformity with the Act.
In cases of contravention of the provisions of sec. 101, it will be the duty of the Council
to take proceedings when the place is a retail * bakehouse. In other cases it will be open to
them either to take proceedings themselves or to report the matter to the District Inspector with
a view to proceedings being taken by him; but, as the duty of certification under the section
rests with the Council, it will probably be most convenient that they should take proceedings
themselves in all cases of contravention which come within their knowledge.
(iv.) Home Work. (Secs. 107-115.)
Very important powers of controlling the conditions under which certain classes of work
are done in the homes of the workers were for the first time given to District Councils by the
Act of 1901. These powers aim at the prevention of home work being done (1) in dwellings
which are injurious or dangerous to the health of the workers themselves, e.g., through overcrowding,
want of ventilation, or other insanitary conditions; (2) in premises where there is
dangerous infectious disease.
The provisions of the Act are as follows: —
(1) Unwholesome dwellings.— If any place in which home work is being done in connection
with the business of a factory or workshop is injurious or dangerous to the health of the persons
working there, the Council may, by notice to the occupier of the factory or workshop, or to any
contractor employed by such occupier, prohibit him from giving out work to be done in that place.
The power may be exercised also in the case of work given out from places other than
factories or workshops, e.g., laundries, warehouses, shops, &c.
The power does not apply to all classes of home work, but only to those which may be
specified by orders of the Secretary of State. Two Orders have been made (the "Home Work
Orders of 11th December, 1901, and 14th July, 1902,") applying the power to the following
classes of work:—
The making, cleaning, washing, altering, ornamenting, finishing, and repairing of
wearing apparel, and any work incidental thereto;
The making, ornamenting, mending, and finishing of lace, and of lace curtains
and nets;
Cabinet and furniture making, and upholstery work;
The making of electro-plate;
The making of files;
Fur-pulling;
The making of iron and steel cables and chains;
The making of iron and steel anchors and grapnels;
The making of cart gear, including swivels, rings, loops, gear buckles, mullin bits,
hooks, and attachments of all kinds.
The making of locks, latches and keys.
(2) Infected dwellings.—If any inmate of a house in which home work is done is suffering
from any infectious disease which is required by law to be notified to the local authority, the
Council may, whether such inmate has been removed from the house or not, by order served on
the occupier of any factory, workshop, or other place from which work is given out, or on any
contractor employed by such occupier, prohibit him from giving out such work to any person
living or working in the house, or a specified part of a house, during such time as the Council
may fix. In an emergency, the power may be exercised by any two or more members of the
Council acting on the advice of the Medical Officer of Health.
This power, like the last, does not apply to all classes of work, but only to such as the
Secretary of State may fix. The classes of work in regard to which the power may be exercised
have been fixed as follows:—
The making, cleaning, washing, altering, ornamenting, finishing, and repairing of
wearing apparel, and any work incidental thereto;
The making, ornamenting, mending, and finishing of lace, and of lace curtains
and nets;
Upholstery work; and
Fur pulling.
☼ In London the duty belongs to the Borough Councils in the case of every bakehouse (whether retail or not)
which is a workshop Public Health (London) Act, 1891, sec. 26.
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