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65
Consideration of the report was deferred, it being understood that the master bakers desired
a conference with the Committee. On February 10th, the Committee received a deputation of
master bakers, who submitted a memorandum embodying the views of the trade, formulated by a
meeting held on the preceding day. This memorandum was printed in my annual report for 1902,
page 104. On February 17th the report of the Committee was unanimously adopted by the
Council.
On March 10th the Town Clerk addressed a communication to the several occupiers of
underground bakehouses as follows:—
"By direction of the Council, I forward herewith a copy of the Requirements for Underground
Bakehouses, compliance with which is the condition on which the Council will be
prepared to grant their certificate, under section 101 (a print of which has already been sent to
you), that the premises in your occupation are, in the words of the Act,' suitable for the purpose
as regards construction, light, ventilation, and in all other respects.'
"For your further information, I also forward a statement showing in what particulars the
premises in your occupation appear not to conform with the Council's Requirements.
"The annexed Notes on certain of these Requirements will, it is hoped, be of service to you
should you decide to apply for the Council's certificate.
"Should you so decide, will you be so good as to forward to the Medical Officer of Health,
at your early convenience, a specification of the work you propose to carry out?
"I am to suggest that it would be undesirable to put any such work in band until the said
specification shall have been submitted."
Plans and specifications were sent in with respect to nearly all of the premises, the great
majority of which were inspected by the sub-committee. After due consideration, the plans, etc.,
were approved; but in many instances, not without more or less important modifications suggested
by the sub-committee. In a majority of the bakehouses (45* out of 78), the drains were reconstructed
under the supervision of the Borough Engineer; other works were carried out under the direction of the
several sanitary inspectors and supervised by the Chief Inspector. The sub-committee, who, in all, held
37 meetings, carried out the Council's instructions with all possible consideration for the interests of
the occupiers of underground bakehouses. The improvements effected were great, and in many
instances involved considerable outlay. Many of the master bakers expressed satisfaction with the
results, and thanks to the sub-committee for the considerate manner in which they had carried out
their arduous and responsible duties. Many operatives, moreover, manifested appreciation of the
benefits conferred on themselves by the improvements effected.
The Council's "Requirements," as interpreted by the appended "Notes," were duly carried
out, and the provisions of the Factory and Workshop Act (Section 101) were complied with as
the following statement of the results attained clearly shows:—
Construction.—
1. Floor space †. In no case is this less than 200 superficial feet.
2. Height. In no case is this less than 7½ feet.
8. Capacity. In no case is this less than 1,500 cubic feet.
4. Floor. This in every case has been constructed of "hard, smooth, durable and
impervious material,"—as granolithic paving, or rubbed york stone, or
approved paving tiles,—laid on six inches of proper cement concrete.
5. Walls. In every case these are now covered with "hard, smooth, durable materials,—
as white glazed bricks, or white glazed tiles, or crystopal or opalite, or
Keene's cement," painted, or, more often, enamelled.
6. Ceiling. In every case this is now finished with "smooth and durable material,
meable to dust and damp,"—usually Keene's cement, painted, or, more
often, enamelled; in some cases steel plates were affixed.
7. Access. In every case this is now irrespective of the means of access from the shop,
and (more or less) satisfactory both as to light and ventilation.
8. Light. Every bakehouse is now "efficiently lighted by daylight obtained by means
which do not permit of the entrance of dust or dirt"—very generally
through the medium of prismatic lights.
9. Ventilation. Every bakehouse is now "adequately ventilated by permanent inlet and outlet
tubes with openings so placed as to prevent the entrance of dust and dirt."
In some cases power has been brought to aid,—by electric fans. Stallboard
ventilation has been absolutely excluded.
* This number is irrespective of minor works of repair and of partial reconstruction.
† The number and title in each paragraph correspond to a "requirement" of the Council, the words within inverted
commas are citations from the " requirements."