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fresh legislation is desirable, with the object of replacing the sanitary
supervision of bakehouses under the Sanitary Authorities, with
increased powers to enable them to regulate bakehouses by bye laws,
dealing with, (a) position and construction, including lighting and
ventilation, and periodical cleansing of bakehouses, and (b) the
materials and utensils employed in the manufacture of bread.
(3) 'That in the opinion of this Vestry bakehouses should be licensed or
registered the same as cowsheds or dairies.' "
Reference having been made to my views, I should like to say
that, in my judgment, the present state of legislation in respect
of bakehouses is altogether unsatisfactory, and that, while I
would not desire to take away from Factory Inspectors the
duties they are now supposed to discharge, in relation to young
persons employed in bakehouses, and the hours within which
such employment may be lawfully carried on, it has been
sufficiently proved Parliament made a mistake in handing over
to Factory Inspectors a supervision of bakehouses, which has
confessedly been exercised in the most perfunctory manner, and
that steps should be taken to obtain a reversal sal of the policy
inaugurated in 1878. I will only add that I long since formed
definite opinions on this question,and expressed them as follows,
in my last Annual Report (page 112)—
"What really is required is a proper 'Bakehouse Regulation Act,' providing
for the licensing of bakehouses, and conferring on Sanitary Authorities
the power, which they should be obliged to exercise, of regulating
the trade by bye-laws, uniform for the Metropolis, dealing with—
(1) The position and construction, including lighting and
ventilation of bakehouses.
(2) The periodical cleansing of them; and
(3) The materials and utensils employed in the manufacture of
bread."
Some time having elapsed, and nothing more heard from St.
Pancras, application was made to the Vestry Clerk, who returned
a printed summary of replies received from 18 of the Vestries,
&c., which, speaking generally, were favourable to the principle
of regulation of bakehouses by the Sanitary Authority, and