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of baking bread; in Stepney 4 bakehouses were discontinued and new ones constructed above
ground, and in 21 instances the certificate was refused; in Poplar no application was received
in respect of 3; in Southwark 6 were closed; in Bermondsey 6 were not in use at the time of
the Act coming into operation, and in 2 other instances certificates were not granted; in
Battersea in 15 instances the bakehouse was closed, in one instance in which the certificate was
refused there was appeal to the magistrate, who upheld the decision of the borough council; in
9 instances other bakehouses were constructed by the owner; in Lambeth 7 were not certified,
and are now closed; in Wandsworth in 7 instances no application was received, and in another
instance the consideration of the alterations to be made was adjourned; in Camberwell 1 bakehouse
was closed; in Deptford certificates were granted for 27 of 34 bakehouses; in Greenwich
only 1 certificate had been granted at the end of the year, but certain bakers occupying underground
bakehouses were continuing in occupation while providing new premises; in Woolwich
10 underground bakehouses have been removed from the register.
The improvements in underground bakehouses which have been certified is testified
to by many medical officers of health, the change in the condition of the bakehouse
being greater in some instances than had been anticipated. There is, therefore,
no doubt that the Act has served a useful purpose, and that the underground bakehouses
of London are far more free from objection than formerly. Desire is, however,
expressed in one or two of the reports for a power to make by.laws for the maintenance
of wholesome conditions in the remaining bakehouses. The medical officer of health of Lambeth
has included in his annual report a draft of by.laws which relate to the conduct of the business,
and which, he believes, would be effective for this purpose. The medical officer of health of
Battersea also points out the need for by.laws, which he thinks might well be made by tho
County Council and enforced by the borough council.
The number of bakehouses on the registers of 25 sanitary authorities, in 1903, both above
ground and underground, are shown in the following table—

An order made by the Home Secretary under section 3 (2) of the Factory and Workshop
Act, 1901 came into force on the 1st January, 1904. This order modifies for persons employed
in bakehouses the amount of cubic space which is required for every person—
(1). As regards underground bakehouses, by the substitution of "500 cubic feet of space"
to every person for "250 cubic feet of space to every person."
(2). As regards bakehouses (other than such as are underground) where work is carried on
at night by artificial light other than electric light, by substituting in respect of the period
between 9 in the evening and 6 in the succeeding morning "400 cubic feet of space to every
person" for "250 cubic feet of space to every person."
Dr. Allan states that he finds it will affect only one or two bakehouses in Westminster, and
only in each instance to the extent of one person employed occasionally.
Laundries.
The administration of the Factory and Workshop Act is especially needful for ameliorating
the conditions under which work is carried on in laundries. These conditions are well