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Prosecutions
Six summonses were issued for contravening the Sunday
Trading provisions. Fines of £83 were imposed ranging from £3
for a first offence to £20, the maximum, for a second offence. The
Council were awarded £30. 9s. Od. costs. One summons was
"dismissed".
Further summonses have been served for the hearing of the
Magistrates' in 1967.
In 1965, The Shops (Early Closing Days) Act, 1965, made a
fundamental change in that "shops authorities" were no longer
empowered to fix the day of the weekly half-day closing of shops.
The choice of the early closing day is now entirely for the shopkeeper
himself to decide. Throughout the Country shop-keepers
are in doubt whether to operate a five-day week (there is no legal
objection to this) or a six-day trading week, this latter arrangement
is permitted under the Act subject to certain legal procedure.
In the Central district of Romford, the advocates of six-day
trading submitted evidence to the Council that a majority of shopkeepers
were in favour of being exempted from the early closing
day provisions, Section 1 of the Shops Acts, 1950, as amended by
the Shops (Early Closing Days) Act, 1965. The Council decided to
hold a ballot as laid down in the Regulations. The Council listed
forty groups of shops forming a particular class. The following
classes voted in favour and the Council were therefore bound to
make an exemption order now known as the Havering Early Closing
Day Exemption Order No.1.
China, Glass and Pottery
Cosmetics, Toilet Requisites and Chemists Sundries
Dyers, Cleaners and Launderettes
Electrical Appliances and Accessories
Grocery and Provisions
Hairdressing — Female
Handbags, Umbrellas, Leather and Imitation Goods
Knitting Wools
Pet Animal Shops
Photographers, Cameras and Photographic Supplies
Shop and Office Equipment and Supplies
Spectacles and Allied Sundries
Stationers
Tailors
Timber Merchants
Wearing Apparel — Female
The following classes voted against exemption and therefore
are still subject to the early closing day of their choice.
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