London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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St Pancras 1934

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]

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62
shop, and that suitable and sufficient sanitary conveniences or washing facilities, as the case
may be, are otherwise conveniently available. The occupier of a shop aggrieved by the
withdrawal of an exemption certificate may appeal to the County Court.
The owner or occupier of a shop failing to comply with a notice served under any
provision of section (10) will be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £20,
or in the case of a second or subsequent conviction in respect of the same requirement to
a fine not exceeding £50, or £5 for every day since the first conviction in respect of that
requirement, whichever is the greater. It will be a defence to prove that there was no
contravention of section 10, or that the requirements of a notice were, within a reasonable
time after service thereof, complied with in so far as they were necessary to secure compliance
with the statute. Any fines obtained are payable to the authority instituting the prosecution.
Scction 11 provides that any person, being either the owner or the occupier of a
shop, who has incurred or is about to incur any expense for the purpose of securing that
the requirements of section 10 are complied with in respect of the shop, who alleges that
the whole or any part of the expenses ought to be borne by any other person having an
interest in the premises, may apply to the county court, and the court may make such order
concerning the expenses or their apportionment as appears just and equitable.
It is provided by section 13 (3) that it is the duty of the sanitary authority (the
borough council) as part of their duties under the Public Health Acts to enforce the provisions
of the new Shops Act relating to ventilation and temperature of shops, and to
sanitary conveniences, and any inspector appointed by such an authority shall for the
purposes of his powers and duties have in relation to shops all the powers conferred in
relation to factories and workshops on inspectors by section 119 of the Factory and Workshop
Act, 1901, and that section and section 121 of the same Act shall apply accordingly.
This means that the inspector has power to enter, inspect and examine shops, and to inspect
certificates, registers, etc., and the shopkeeper must afford the inspector every facility to
carry out his duties. It is the duty of inspectors (county council) appointed under the
Shops Act, 1912, to take note of and if necessary report to the borough council any contravention
of any provision of the new Act which the borough council have to administer.
Merchandise Marks Act, 1926.
4.—Orders in Council were made by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries,
requiring an indication of origin to be affixed to imported dead poultry and imported bacon
and ham. The Orders came into force on 22nd June, 1934, and 22nd July, 1934,
respectively.
Of the new legislation the Shops Act throws the greatest amount of work upon the
officers of the Borough Council. There are some 4,700 shops in the Borough, and it has
been decided to make every effort to complete the initial inspections within one year from the
coming into operation of the Act.
HEALTH PROPAGANDA.
In addition to the numerous leaflets which are distributed from the various Welfare
Centres, Tuberculosis Dispensary, etc., an arrangement is in force, in conjunction with the
Education and Public Libraries Committee, to make known the Health Facilities which
exist in the Borough by printing this information on the reverse side of the Monthly Lists
and the book covers which are issued to borrowers at the libraries.