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customers the occupier of the shop shall provide seats behind the counter
or in such other position as may be suitable for the purpose, and such
seats shall be in proportion of not less than one seat to every three
female shop assistants employed in each room. (2) Any person failing
to comply with the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an offence
against this Act, and liable for a first offence to a fine not exceeding £3,
and for a second or subsequent offence to a fine of not less than £1 and
not exceeding £5." There can be no misunderstanding as to the effect
of this provision, and even in the case of the employment of a single
assistant a seat has to be provided behind the counter or some other
suitable position. The Public Health Act lays the obligation upon
employers of providing separate accommodation for each sex. This is
a serious difficulty in small establishments and it has already occupied
the attention of the Local Government Board. The Board have
advised the local authorities that the requirements of the Act cannot be
dispensed with, but they suggest that in order to obviate the incurring
of serious additional expense it may be found possible to make arrangements
for the free use of a convenience in a neighbouring house or of
a public convenience near by. The Board has suggested to local
authorities that they should instruct their officers to ascertain whether
temporary arrangements of the kind indicated can be made in any case
in which the difficulty is likely to arise in the borough, and so facilitate
the action of any shopkeeper who has permitted his male assistants to
join the army. It will be noted that traders who are in difficulty in this
matter are entitled to ask the local authority for assistance, and we
advise that this course should be adopted rather than any contravention
of the law should be permitted.
Fried Fish Shops.
There are 30 fried fish shops in the Borough. 137 inspections were
made to the same.
Fish-curing Premises.
There are 6 fish-curing premises in the Borough. 28 inspections
of these premises were made.
Ice Cream.
These premises received the usual attention during the season of
the year in which the business is carried on, and where necessary,
cleansing, etc., were carried out.