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144
The Chief Inspector of Factories and Workshops, in his
annual report for 1882, which did not come under my notice
until after the above portion of my report was in type, again
refers to the bakehouse question. It appears that Inspector
Lakeman's report, referred to above, applied to a limited part
of the Metropolis only, his own district in fact, "which lies
between Farringdon Street and Cambridge Road, Bethnal
Green." This gentleman, with his colleague, made about 1000
visits to bakehouses in the year ended October 31, 1882, and
he states that:—
"Every bakehouse visited by us there has been lime-washed more or less
frequently during the year. The practice of accumulating heaps of
refuse under troughs has been largely decreased; traps to sinks are not
found broken or lost to the extent of last year, but no advance has been
made in the ventilation of worst places, nor can there be in bakehouses
situated under the shop. . . . We have endeavoured to
improve the ventilation, and to secure a water supply for the abominable
closets in bakehouses. . . Where there is a disinclination
to erect flush cisterns, we cannot enforce it so long as care is taken to
flush by hand."
I have already (at page 134), given a summary of "the requirements
of the law with regard to bakehouses," stating
(inter alia) that the bakehouse is
"To be kept in a cleanly state, free from effluvia arising from any drain,
privy, or other nuisance . . and is to be ventilated : also that a bakehouse,
in which there is a contravention of Section 3, is deemed not to
be kept in conformity with the Act, and the occupier thus becomes
liable to a fine (under Section 81) not exceeding ten pounds."
The Inspector appears not to have had a fresh recollection
with regard either to his own powers, or the duties of bakehouse
keepers, and to have lost sight of a duty devolving on him,
already referred to, as follows:—
" Should the Inspector observe act, or neglect, or default, in relation to
sanitary matters involving nuisance (e.g., 'in relation to any drain,
water-closet, sink,' &c.), punishable or remediable under the law
relating to public health, but not under the Factory Act, it is his duty
to give notice thereof to the Sanitary Authority, which will then make