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42
In accordance with instructions from the Public Health Committee, some inquiries
were made as to how far the practice of sleeping in bakehouses was indulged in in
Shoreditch. Some twenty of the bakehouses were visited for the purpose, and the
masters and men were questioned upon the subject. Prom the information obtained
the practice would appear to have been quite customary years ago, but so far as could
be ascertained such was not the case at the present time, at least to anything like the
extent it was formerly. In seven of the bakehouses visited the men employed lived
and slept in rooms on the premises, in two no men were employed, in two the men
employed lived in dwellings situate close to the bakehouse, and in one case the man
had the use of a sitting room on the premises, if at any time he wanted to rest. With
respect to the remainder, the bakehouses were stated not to be used as sleeping places,
those employed having ample time to get sleep during the day when they were oft duty,
and the arrangements for carrying on the work were such as to render it impossible for
the men employed to rest for more than an hour during the night. This is probably
correct with regard to most of these bakehouses, but in some instances there appeared
to be reason for believing that the men had much longer times at night when there
was nothing for them to do and in such cases there is the probability of them going to
sleep in the bakehouses. By order of the Sanitary Authority a circular letter on the
subject was sent to the bakers carrying on business in Shoreditch, directing attention
to the risk of injury to the health of those who are in the habit of sleeping in
bakehouses, and pointing out the illegality of the practice.
SLAUGHTERHOUSES.
The slaughterhouses to the number of 16 were inspected during the year, and
on the whole their sanitary condition was found to be satisfactory, a few matters only
requiring attention. The licences were all renewed by the London Connty Council.
Under the London Government Act, 1889, the Borough Council of Shoreditch, in
addition to looking after the general sanitary condition of the slaughterhouses in the
Borough, is now charged with the duty of enforcing the bye-laws for the regulation of
the business of slaughte er of cattle, and the structure of the premises upon which such
business is carried on with respect to such matters as the keeping of animals for
slaughtering, cleansing, ventilation and drainage, the manner of use of the slaughterhouse
and the like. These additional duties, of course, necessitate more frequent visitation
of the slaughterhouses on the part of the officers of the Borough Council. The
licensing of slaughterhouses remains in the h inds of the London County Council.
COWHOUSES.
The cowhouses in Shoreditch number 12, two having gone out of use since last
year. The cows kept in them numbered 114, as compared with 135 last year.
In connection with the subject of cowhouses it may be mentioned that the Borough
Council under the London Government Act, 1899, has now the duty of seeing that the
bye-laws and regulations for the time being in force are duly carried out within the
Borough, with respect to dairies and milk. These regulations contain provisions (a)
for the inspection of cattle in cowsheds; (b) for prescribing and regulating the lighting