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40
SHOPS ACT, 1950.
This Act came into operation on 1st October, 1950. It consolidated
all previous Acts relating to Shops Acts and therefore
contained no amendments. It has not been possible to carry out
extensive routine inspections of all shops in the district. As in
the past, the principal contraventions concerned the absence of
forms which should be exhibited.
There were two complaints concerning Sunday Trading and
in both cases the shops were newly occupied by traders who
were not acquainted with the conditions laid down for trading
on Sundays-these contraventions were immediately remedied.
One hundred and sixty-three inspections were carried out,
one hundred and thirty-seven defects and contraventions were
found and one hundred and four were remedied by the end of
the year.
In no case was statutory action necessary.
PETROLEUM ACTS.
Ninety-five licences were issued to store Petroleum Spirit
and one for Carbide of Calcium.
The total storage capacity licensed during the year was:-
Bulk Storage 119,560 gallons.
Can Storage 8,549 gallons.
Carbide of Calcium 300 lbs.
As will be seen from the above figures, a large majority of
the Petroleum Spirit is stored in underground containers.
Can storage includes Petroleum Mixtures and Thinners.
Eighty-seven visits were made in connection with this work.
VERMINOUS CONDITIONS AND UNCLEANLINESS.
One hundred and forty-nine visits to premises by Sanitary
Inspectors related to eradication of bugs, dirty conditions and
disinfestations.
Fifty-two nuisances were found. During the year thirty-two
nuisances were abated (including those carried over from 1949).
The very few cases of vermin infestation found in connection
with the Council's Housing Estates were successfully dealt with.
The continued low incidence of verminous conditions and
uncleanliness is a source of gratification, particularly taking into
consideration the housing shortage and the consequent overcrowded
conditions in which so many families are living. It is
surely a measure of our success in educating the public in the