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bakehouses fell into a deplorable state of neglect, as testified by
reports of the Factory Inspectors themselves. Happily, the
representations addressed to the Government by the Society of
Medical Officers of Health and others, endorsed as they were by
the admissions and recommendations of the Chief Factory
Inspector himself, convinced the Government that the Act of 1878
qua bakehouses was a mistake ; and so it came - to pass that, by
the enactment of the " Factory and Workshop Amendment
Act," in the last days of the Session of 1883, the Vestries and
District Boards were restored to their former position, and they
are now the " Local Authority," so far as relates to cleanliness,
ventilation, overcrowding, and other Sanitary conditions of bakehouses,
with power to enforce Sections 3, 33, 34 and 35 of the
" Factory and Workshop Act, 1878." Your Vestry had previously
made recommendations to the proper authorities, which went
considerably beyond the point reached by the new Act, and were
in substantial agreement with views set out in my annual report
for 1881, in which I stated that—
"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
tion, of bakehouses;
(2) The periodical cleansing of bakehouses ; and
(3) The materials and utensils employed in the manufacture of
bread."
That such a measure is desirable will hardly be contested, but
it was felt to be useless to press for any alteration in the Bill of
1883 ; for, owing to the lateness of the period at which the
measure was introduced, it could not be passed, except in its
original form. I took the opportunity, nevertheless, of drawing
the attention of the Local Government Board to the shortcomings
of the Bill, and it is hoped that a more complete and satisfactory
measure may hereafter be introduced, for even the operative bakers,
recognise the necessity for thorough supervision of bakehouses by
the Sanitary Authority. It may be mentioned that your Vestry's