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this point, we accepted the assurances of the bakers, that no
such boys work by night. We heard of 14 boys who worked
by day; but we were careful not to ask questions which we
had no right to ask; hence we give no statistics as to nightwork,
number of men employed, &c., &c. We were received
courteously, and felt it our duty to confine ourselves to such
things as we had a right to ask.
The last enquiry was, are there any places on the same
level with the bakehouse", and forming parts of the same
building, used as sleeping places? and, if so, are they
effectually separated by a partition extending from the floor
to the ceiling, and having an external glazed window of at
least 9 superficial feet, of which at least 4½ superficial feet
can be opened for ventilation ? We were informed in 73
cases that no men sleep on the premises. In 16 cases there
was sleeping accommodation for men on the same level with
the bakehouse; in two of which 16 cases, the men slept in
the bakehouse, the others in places adjoining, but partitioned
off as the Act directs. Of these, 8 were noted as ill-ventilated
; 2 had no windows to open, but 1 of these is said not
to be used. In three cases, sleeping places over the bakehouse,
or elsewhere on the premises, are noted as ill-ventilated.
When we speak of "sleeping places," we mean bed rooms
with beds. In many bakehouses the men lie down in their
clothes, and sleep for a portion of the night on the boards,
whilst waiting for the fermentation of the bread. But
however undesirable, this practice is not contrary to law.
We were, as we have said, most courteously received by
the bakers, most of whom, we were astonished to find quite
ignorant of the provisions, and almost of the existence of an
Act that concerns them so closely. The Vestry, since our
Report, has caused a copy of the Act to be distributed to
each of them; and in the weeks that have since passed, all