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SHOPS AND OFFICES
Mr. S. F. Titterton, D.S.A.A., the Council's Shops Inspector,
who works under the supervision of the Chief Public Health Inspector
has submitted the following report on the various duties for which
he is responsible.
Shops Act, 1950
This Act consolidated a series of measures from 1912-1938 and
made no change in the law. It provides for the statutory closing hour
of shops (much in the news now that the Government has decided to
end Resale Price Maintenance) early closing days, restrictions on
the opening of shops on a Sunday, maximum working hours of
young persons and some health and welfare facilities.
More than fifty years ago, the principle part of the Act came
into force and placed for the first time a definite responsibility on
the Local Authority to enforce the law.
Conditions of employment for shop workers have improved
much since then but the act still affords a valuable protection. A
routine inspection to one shop revealed that the only employee
worked on every day of the week and was not given a weekly halfholiday
or allowed compensatory time for working on a Sunday.
Housing accommodation went with the job.
Several enquiries were made by employees regarding the midmorning
and afternoon tea breaks (assumed to be a statutory obligation)
but were advised that the law is the same as it was when
enacted in 1912 and that they would only be entitled to a break of
twenty minutes during a working spell of six hours or five hours
in respect of young persons and half-hour for tea if the employment
goes beyond 7 p.m. In most shops, one hour must be allowed for
dinner between 11.30 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. The working spell laid
down in the Act does seem to be out of line with the accepted practice
of most employers. Incidentally, office workers have no statutory
right to a meal break, so at any rate, the shop worker is better off in
this respect.
The employment of young persons received considerable attention
throughout the year and none were found to be exceeding the
permitted hours, 44 hours for those under 16 years and 48 hours
for those between the ages of 16-18 years. However, many do work
these hours, in particular at petrol service stations, hairdressing and
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