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17
Food Factories.
It may also be mentioned that the work carried on in a large number of factories and
workshops is connected with the preparation, manufacture, or packing of various foods. The
supervision of such places so far as the food is concerned is a responsible duty of the local
authority; it would seem desirable that the sanitary conditions under which the work is done
should remain under the control of the authority responsible for securing the purity of
the food.
Bill creates startling precedents.
It appears to be a matter of very considerable importance that the Sanitary Authority
should be responsible for the sanitation of all places within its jurisdiction.
This is the first piece of legislation which has removed any premises from the sanitary
control of a local authority. With the exception of buildings occupied by H.M. Government
in all branches, the hygienic arrangements of every building in an area come: under the
Local Council.
When the Act establishing the Ministry of Health was passed it was contemplated that
all future steps would be in the direction of unifying and concentrating the duties and
powers concerning Public Health under the Public Health Authority. In 1921 certain
duties relating to health enacted under the Factory and Workshops Act, 1901, were transferred
from the Home Office to the Ministry of Health; at this time an official circular
stated that "it seems to the Minister that the enforcement of the provisions relating to
bakehouses can better be undertaken locally than centrally, especially as the work is of the
same character as that at present performed by the sanitary staff of local authorities in
relation to retail bakehouses under Section 102 of the Act of 1901." The proposals in the
Factory Bill of 1924 go directly against this movement.
No saving effected by new proposals.
It has been stated that the handing over of the duties hitherto carried out by Sanitary
Inspectors to Factory Inspectors is designed to prevent duplication of inspection work which
is stated to cause needless expense and trouble. It is difficult to conceive that such statements
can be justified; the work is carried out by an existing sanitary staff; no new duties
are imposed by the Factory Bill on the existing staff as far as is known; no new sanitary
staff is wanted. We have worked out that only 13 per cent. of the inspections made by the
Sanitary Inspectors in this Borough would be affected; there is no question of lessening the
cost of sanitary inspections in this Borough. At present the only expense involved is the
cost of very infrequent letters from the Factory Inspector stating that they have found an
infringement of a sanitary regulation and calling the attention of the Public Health
Department to the matter.
Efficiency of service by Sanitary Inspectors.
No complaints generally have been raised as to the visits of Sanitary Inspectors, who
from their long experience of the work have been able to form practical judgments of the
various requirements under the Acts so that the work can be carried on in the spirit rather
than in the letter of the law. On the contrary there is reason to believe that employers in
the district as regards such matters as sanitation would prefer that the Local Authority
supervised them rather than a Central Body.
Smoke Abatement.
The smoke shafts in the Borough were frequently kept under observation and
in 510 eases the inspections were recorded. Some of these observations were made in
the early morning when smoke pollution is more prevalent. Generally the observations
extended over periods not less than one hour. Four complaints were also received. As
the result of the inspections four intimation notices were served followed by statutory
notices in one case.
B