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Merchandise Marks Act, 1926.—Under the powers conferred
by this Act, Orders in Council have been made prohibiting the sale
or exposure for sale of imported foodstuffs unless bearing an indication
of the country of origin. Four hundred and eighty-six
inspections were made to secure compliance with the various Orders
but on no occasion was it found necessary to take action against
Vendors.
Blackheath Fair.—Blackheath, famous for its association
with Wat Tyler and the Peasants' Revolt in 1381 and again with
Jack Cade and the Kentish Insurgents in 1480, has become the
scene of an established institution—the ' Fair.'
Here, during Easter, Whitsun and the August Bank Holiday,
many thousands of Londoners from this and adjacent Boroughs
once again availed themselves of the opportunity of making a visit
to this source of entertainment.
The gathering of such numbers inevitably leads to the presentation
of numerous problems, not the least of which is the provision
for their refreshment. From the humble stall or barrow to the
modern mobile canteen, light refreshments such as shellfish, jellied
eels, apple-fritters, fish and chips, ice-cream, candy-floss, minerals,
etc., in varying degrees of attractiveness, were offered for sale to
the visitors.
Constant supervision was necessary to ensure that a safe
standard of cleanliness was maintained by the vendors and to this
end a Food Inspector was always in attendance.
In previous years a number of contraventions of Section 16
of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, which demands a conspicuous
display of the name and address of the vendor on his stall, vehicle or
container, had been detected and dealt with, but in the current year
no such infringements were noted.
The observance of hygiene during these holiday periods was
assisted by the provision of a clean water supply and adequate
sanitary accommodation by the London County Council's Parks
Department.
Street Traders.—Under Part IV of the London County
Council (General Powers) Act, 1947, registration with the local
Council is compulsory for all street traders. During the year 57
applications were made and licences granted to street traders