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47
of the premises. In my opinion the requirements were perfectly
fair and reasonable, and they represented the absolute minimum
requirements in order to insure fairly healthy surroundings
and cleanliness. Each of the 3 Underground Bakehouses were
duly certified, after certain structural alterations were made.
Cremation
The difficulties of disposing of the dead must of necessity
increase with the rapid growth of our large towns, and there
can be no doubt that the time is not far distant when it will
be found difficult and costly to continue the method of earth
burial. The recent Cremation Act (of 1902), which legalises
the burning of human remains and enables Local Sanitary
Authorities to provide Crematoriums, is therefore a statute of
public health importance. By this Act. on April 1st, 1903.
the several Crematoriums in the country came under the control
of the Home Office and the Local Government Board,
and a Departmental Committee has recently drawn up Regula
tions provided for by the Act. for the management and
conduct of these establishments.
The Midwives' Act of 1902.
This Act came into force on April 1st of the year under
review. This is a very necessary measure, requiring suitable
qualifications of Midwives for their work, and their registration
There is a practically unanimous agreement amongst County
Councils not to delegate their powers under the Act, as the
supervising authority, to the Local District Councils, and
doubtless in cases where a County Medical Officer of Health
has been appointed. Administration by a Committee of the
County Council would appear to offer the best chances of