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Outworkers.
Part VIII of the Factories Act requires the occupier
of a factory who employs persons to carry out certain
classes of work in their own homes to supply a list of such
persons to the District Council every six months. One
hundred and five notifications were received and 106 in
spections made; in every instance the work was found to
be carried out under suitable conditions.
Shops Act.
All parts of the Shops Act are administered, including
hours of closing, assistants' half holiday, Sunday trading,
comfort and welfare of assistants etc. The Act applies to
643 premises in the district to which the Public Health
Inspectors made 1,115 visits. In addition 22 tours of duty
were undertaken outside normal office hours i.e. in the
evenings and on Sundays. As a result 4 informal notices
were served but in no instance was it found necessary to
institute legal proceedings.
For the convenience of shopkeepers a stock of the
statutory forms which they are obliged to display on their
premises is held in the Public Health Department.
Recent legal decisions have reduced to absurdity the
provisions of the Shops Act dealing with Hours of Closing
and Sunday trading and the sooner they are completely revised
the better. The weakness of one part of the Act how
ever should not be allowed to overshadow the good work done
under other parts of the Act in connection with heating,
lighting, ventilation, sanitary and welfare facilities for
shop assistants.
PAKT VI. MISCELLANEOUS
Petroleum (Regulation) Acts.
These Acts apply not only to the storage of petrol
but to petroleum mixtures, cellulose solutions, other oils
and calcium carbide. During the year 110 licences were
issued in respect of:
45