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(26 and 27 Vict. Cap. 40), were transferred to Government
Inspectors, January 1st, 1879, on the repeal of that Act by the
"Factory and Workshop Act, 1878" (41 Vict. Cap. 16.) The only
reasonable surmise I can offer in explanation of the transfer is that
as "young persons," i.e., persons under 16 years of age, may not
be lawfully employed in the business of a baker, which is largely a
nocturnal one, between nine o'clock at night and five o'clock in the
morning, such persons may have been deemed in need of the
protection supposed to be afforded by the appointment of factory
inspectors. It will probably be admitted that the inspection of
bakehouses, with the object of preserving cleanliness and preventing
nuisance, could be—and was—better done by numerous sanitary
inspectors, than by an exceedingly small number of factory
inspectors, presumably having no special experience in sanitary
matters; and it requires no great stretch of imagination to suppose
that the protection of youthful employes might have been secured
more easily by enlisting, rather than by superceding, the services
of sanitary inspectors. At any rate the supseression of these
officers has been of no advantage to the employes, for it is the
fact, speaking of this parish, and probably it is true of the
greater part of the metropolis, that official inspection of bakehouses,
to all practical intents and purposes, has been discontinued since
the "duty" was handed over to the factory inspectors.
Actual inspection of the bakehouses, however, has not ceased
in this parish, for acting under my directions, the sanitary
inspectors have continued to exercise supervision over them as a part
of their routine duty, and in the past year 488 inspections were made
of the 130 bakehouses. (Vide Tables VI and VIa, Appendix.)
The requirements of the law with regard to bakehouses are few and
simple: whether they are adequate is another question. They are
as follows:—
Definition.—A "Bakehouse," a "non-textile factory," is "any place in whieh
are baked bread, biscuits, or confectionery, from the baking or selling of which a
profit is derived.
Sanitary Provisions.— In respect of sanitary provisions the Bakehouse comes
under the general law relating to factories and works. It is to be kept
in a cleanly state, free from effluvia arising from any drain, privy, or other
nuisance ; is not to be so over-crowded as to be injurious to the health of the
workmen, and is to be ventilated. (Sec. 3). A Bakehouse in which there is a