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89
BAKEHOUSES.
The bakehouses in the Borough, 96 in number, of which 75 are underground, were periodically
inspected during the year, with a view to enforcing compliance with the provisions of Sections
97 and 100 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, which re-enacted and extended provisions contained
in the several Acts repealed by the consolidating Act.
PUBLIC HEALTH (LONDON) ACT, 1891.
The need for amendments to this Act is recognised, and it was expected that the County
Council would have introduced an amending Bill ere now. In February, 1899, a letter had been
received by the late Vestry from the Public Health Committee of that body, desiring information
as to amendments which in their opinion should be made. The communication was referred to a
sub-committee of the Sanitary Committee, together with reports by the vestry clerk, the surveyor,
and the medical officer of health; and also a communication from the Society of Medical Officers
of Health, embodying suggestions for amendments and additions to the Act. The sub-committee
made recommendations for amending section 2, and especially by a definition of "overcrowding,'
corresponding to the provisions of the Council's second by-law for registered houses. They further
proposed that section 5 should be amended, so as to enable the sanitary authority, upon obtaining
a closing order, to evict the tenants. Other proposed amendments dealt with offensive trades
(slaughter-houses and cow-houses) and dairies; with the disposal of refuse ; regulations as to waterclosets;
unsound food ; notification of infectious disease; cleansing and disinfection of premises
after infectious disease; isolation in hospital; exposure of infected persons, etc. Further additions
to the provisions of the Act were suggested, especially with regard to the control of infectious
disease. The report, subject to a slight variation in regard to proposed amendments to section 55
{notification of infectious disease), was approved by the committee, and submitted to the Vestry.
Some of the amendments were adopted; others, and all but two of the proposed additions, were rejected.
The somewhat barren result of the inquiry was communicated to the County Council. No
proposals for legislation dealing with the points raised have so far been made. In 1904,
however, the Council convened a Conference of delegates of the Metropolitan Asylums Board, and
of the Metropolitan Borough Councils (twenty-five of which were represented), to consider " the
administration of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891." The Conference was held at the County
Hall, Spring Gardens. The resolutions adopted, 49 in number, were grouped under the following
headings:—
1. Housing (1-13).—Houses Let in Lodgings, Underground Rooms, Water Supply, Factories
and Workshops, Shops.
2. Food (14-25).—Premises where Food is prepared for sale, Abolition of Private Slaughter-
liounes, Inspection of Meat killed in Private Slaughter-houses, Inspection of Slaughter-houses,
Cow-houses, Dairies, Milk Shops and Milk Stores, Registration of Milk Shops, Sale of Milk,
Municipal Milk Depots, Sale of Food and Druqs Acts, Cisterns.
3. Prevention of Disease (26-48).—Disinfection, Provision of Laundry, Provision of Permanent
Shelter Accommodation, Precautionary Measures against Phthisis, Hospital Accommodation,
Offensive Trades, House Refuse, Collection of frish Offal and other Offensive
Trade Rifuse, Sanitary Inspection.
4. Miscellaneous (44-49).—Municipal Creches, Smoke Nuisances, Metropolitan Ambulance
Service, etc.
The County Council forwarded to the Metropolitan Borough Councils a transcript of the
shorthand note of the proceedings at the Conference, and asked to be furnished with the views of
those bodies on such of the resolutions as proposed legislation. I made a report to the Council
(November 15th), expressing concurrence with the said resolutions, which dealt with the following
subjects: —
(a) The formulation of by-laws for the regulation of the structure of premises where
food is prepared for sale, and the certification of the suitability of such premises
by the Borough Councils.
(b) The formulation of by-laws for the regulation by the Borough Councils of the
conduct of the business carried on in premises where food is prepared for sale.
(c) The acquisition of powers to enable the Borough Councils to refuse registration
of premises as milk shops where, in their opinion, the premises are unfit.
(d) The introduction of legislation providing for the penalising of persons selling filthy
milk in London.
(e) The acquisition of powers to enable the Borough Councils, at their discretion, to
provide depots for the preparation and sale of sterilised and humanised milk for
infants.