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47
Shops Act, 1950.—Under this Act, which became effective
from 1st October, 1950, the Council is responsible, inter alia, for
ensuring that adequate and proper sanitary accommodation and
washing facilities are available at each shop in the Borough. In the
event of such accommodation not being available at the premises
the Council is empowered under Section 38 of the Act to grant
exemption from this provision if it is satisfied that suitable facilities
are readily accessible elsewhere.
During the year 2 exemption certificates were granted, both
in respect of sanitary accommodation.
At the end of the year 17 exemption certificates were in
operation.
Routine inspections were carried out under the abovementioned
Act on 463 occasions.
Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials Act, 1951.—The
introduction of tliis Act, which became operative on the 1st
November, 1951, brought about the repeal of the previous Rag and
Flock Acts of 1911 and 1928 as well as Section 136 of the Public
Health (London) Act, 1936.
This Act seeks to secure the use of clean filling materials in
upholstered or other articles which are stuffed or lined and it can be
said to be a consolidation of the previous Acts of 1911 and 1928.
It is the duty of the Local Authority to enforce the Act and the
Medical Officer of Health and the Sanitary Inspectors, being duly
authorised officers of the Council, have the right at all reasonable
times and on production of their ' authority ' to enter and inspect
premises and take samples for the purposes of the Act.
Three premises, at which filling and upholstering with new
materials is carried out, remained on the register at the end of the
year and one licence in respect of the manufacture of Rag Flock
was renewed.
Regulations prescribe the standards of cleanliness for each type
of filling material to which the Act applies and under the Rag Flock
and Other Filling Materials Regulations, 1951, four samples, 2 of
Woollen Mixture Felt, 1 of Rag Flock and 1 of Jute Wadding were
obtained and submitted for examination. All proved satisfactory.
Pet Animals Act, 1951.—This Act, introduced to regulate the
sale of pet animals with particular reference to their welfare prior
to sale, became operative from 1st April, 1952, since when it became
an offence to keep a pet shop except under licence from the Local
Authority.