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79
ture of shops and of sanitary conveniences. Local authorities under
the Shops Acts had further responsibilities about lighting and the facilities
for washing and taking meals. In this district the Shops Act Inspector
appointed in the early days of the Council was from the first appointed
to the staff of the Public Health Department. In addition each of the
Sanitary Inspectors devotes a small part of his time to duties under the
Shops Acts. The emphasis on the conditions of work of those in shops
rather than on the hours of closing of the premises brought the work of the
Shops Act Inspector more into line with the preventive work of a health
department. The war years caused many disturbances and much work
was needed before the various establishments were again satisfactory
both from the point of view of hygiene and also of the keeping of the
obligatory records and the exhibition of the statutory notices. One
change brought about by the war is that there has since been no marked
tendency to return to the pre-war practice of shops keeping open late in
the evenings. The time came then when the Shops Act Inspector found
himself able to devote time to the conditions of work of others, namely
those at factories. Being a qualified Sanitary Inspector he was able to
take on these duties. Following the resignation of a Sanitary Inspector
last year, the committee agreed to the post of Shops Act Inspector being
removed from the establishment of the Public Health Department, the
Inspector becoming one of the Sanitary Inspectors with special responsibility
in regard to shops and factories.
During the year 1,776 visits were made under the Shops Act to shops in
the Borough, and arising from the various contraventions found, 292
warnings were given to traders.
Most of the contraventions were the failure to exhibit notices or to
keep the records that are required by the Shops Act. There were no
prosecutions under the Shops Act. Four cases were reported to the
Committee; to two final warning letters were sent, and in the other two
it was decided to institute legal proceedings.
There were three contraventions of the Edgware and Little Stanmore
weekly half-holiday order. Two ladies' hairdressing saloons failed to
close on the half-holiday prior to Christmas; each was warned. The
Police reported a contravention, a retailer supplying fireworks to a child
on a Sunday; here again a warning letter was sent.
Another contravention was by a multiple firm employing a young
person under 18 in excess of 48 hours per week and who failed to report
the overtime. The assistant's hours were adjusted and compensatory
time off was given with pay. In another case, an adult female was
found to be employed on every Sunday in excess of the hours permitted
by the Shops Act; the warnings given were ignored. This matter was
reported to the Committee who gave instructions for proceedings to be
instituted.
The principal statute relating to shops is the Shops Act of 1950,
which repealed eight earlier Acts and parts of three others. The Shops
Act of 1950 states the hours at which shops shall close, but at the same
time enables orders to be made which permit different hours for different
classes of shops in different parts of the district.