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141
unanimous as to the unsatisfactory character of existing
arrangements. The Clerk at the same time intimated that the
Vestry would probably take no further action in the matter,
and they did not.
It was subsequently suggested that your Vestry should
invite a Conference of Vestries, &c., to consider this important
question, with the view of promoting an Amending Act,
to replace the sanitary supervision of bakehouses under
the Sanitary Authorities, and the only objection that could be
urged to the suggestion was that, in the unsettled state of affairs
in respect of the local government of the Metropolis, there was
little ground for hope that the Government would introduce any
such measure.
The Society of Medical Officers of Health having taken
the subject into consideration, resolved, on the recommendation of
the council, to memorialise the Home Secretary, "praying that
the powers originally possessed by the Metropolitan Sanitary
Authorities under the Bakehouse Regulation Act should be
restored to them, with power to make bye-laws regulating the
structure of bakehouses, periodical cleansing, power of entry
at any time, the utensils used in manufacturing bread or pastry,
and also such other matters as the Local Authorities may deem
necessary." A Memorial was subsequently presented, the
terms of which, I believe, were in close, if not literal, agreement
with the subjoined draft, which I prepared, showing:—
"1. That prior to the passing of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1878, the
Sanitary Authority in the Metropolis (as elsewhere) was the Local
Authority under the Bakehouse Regulation Act, 1863.
2. That under the said Bakehouse Regulation Act the Bakehouses in the
Metropolis were regularly inspected by the Sanitary Inspectors of the
respective Parishes and Districts, and the sanitary provisions of the
Act, however imperfect, were duly carried out.
3. That on the repeal of the Bakehouse Regulation Act by the Factory and
Workshop Act the duty of inspecting bakehouses was transferred to
the Factory Inspectors.