It seems that the abolition of night baking, a Bill
for which was first moved some ninety years ago, may at last be achieved. Night baking is a form of night work peculiarly productive of ill-health, and it is on this ground and in the belief that .fresh bread at 3 a.m. is not a vital_ necessity that abolition is demanded. In spite of the fact that the committee of enquiry into night baking, which issued its report last July, did not favour abolition, largely owing to the increased cost, and organisational difficulties which they believed bakeries would suffer, the Bakehouses Bill, which provides for abolition, was given a second reading on Friday. The fact that many consumers prefer new (and indigestible) bread is no reason why bakers should work all night to provide them with it. Night baking is prohibited in many countries today and the International Labour Convention dealing with this question was adopted as long ago as 1925 and has now received eleven ratifications. However, before legislation can effectively abolish night baking, it is necessary that a greater degree of organisation be introduced into the industry. It is to be hoped that the Trade Board which is being set up will help to effect this.
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