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(1) The position and construction, including lighting and
tion, of bakehouses, and
(2) The periodical cleansing of the premises; and
(3) The materials and utensils employed in the manufacture of
bread."
But the Bill was not brought in till the fag end of the Session,
when there was scarcely a hope of passing it, even without
amendment. I felt it my duty, nevertheless, to request the
consideration of the President of the Local Government Board
to two points of special importance, viz.: the necessity (1) for
the insertion of words in Section 19 to give the Sanitary Inspector
the same power of entry, &c., as the Medical Officer of Health,
and (2) for the omission of words in Section 17, which appeared
to legalise, by implication, the coutinuance within or near existing
bakehouses of certain sanitary conveniences of an unsavoury nature.
It was found impossible, however, to amend the Bill, which became
law on the last working day of the Session.
The need for regulation of bakehouses received consideration
at the hands of the Society of Medical Officers of Health in 1882,
and a memorial, which I drew up, was presented to the Home
Secretary, praying that the powers of the Act of 1863 should be
restored to the Sanitary Authorities.
The memorial pointed out (inter alia)—
"(8) That the provisions of the Factory and Workshop Act (1878) are
insufficient to secure a proper sanitary condition of bakehouses,
regarded as places in which a prime necessary of life, the daily food
of man, is prepared.
(9) That there is urgent necessity for fresh legislation to secure such
proper sanitary condition
(10) That in the contemplated legislation, provision should be made for—
Licensing or Registration of Bakehouses.
Power of entry at all times by the officers of the Local Authority.
Power to the Local Authority, being the Sanitary Authority, to
frame bye-laws to enable them to deal with—