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it has not yet been accepted by all that a comprehensive service is desirable.
Others question whether the needs of the smallest firms would justify the
expense and effort involved. Then those who agree that the services
should be co-ordinated under one authority cannot agree about which
that authority should be.
Shops' Acts
Local authorities are concerned with shops in different ways. The
earliest of the Shops' Acts related more especially to the hours the shops
could remain open. Later legislation dealt mainly with the hours of
employment of young persons. As a sanitary authority, the Council is
concerned about such matters as the ventilation and temperature of shops
and the satisfactoriness of the sanitary accommodation. As an authority
responsible for administering the Shops' Acts, the Council has further
responsibilities about lighting, about facilities for washing and for the
taking of meals.
There were at the end of the year 2,346 shops in the district, a
reduction of 11 in the number at the end of the previous year. During
the year 1,611 visits were paid. Over 350 contraventions were found.
These ranged from failing to keep records as prescribed by the Act to
selling non-exempted articles on a Sunday.
Evening visits brought to light only four cases of shops failing to
close at the time required by the Acts. There were ten instances of shops
failing to close on the weekly half-holiday, and five where no compensatory
holidays were being given instead of Sunday employment.
Final warnings were given in a number of cases but in no case were
proceedings instituted.
The Shops Act, 1950, is a complicated piece of legislation and
decisions of the Courts have not always helped to solve problems or the
difficult points associated with it. It was a disappointment, then, to learn
that Parliament abandoned the Bill which it was hoped would effectively
deal with the difficulties and the weaknesses of the existing legislation.
Places of Public Entertainment
The Minister of Health many years ago suggested that the Sanitary
Authority should arrange for all theatres, music halls, and other places of
public entertainment to be visited periodically with regard to their sanitary
condition. The Secretary of State also suggested that when considering
an application for the grant or renewal of a licence of any theatre or other
place of public entertainment, the licensing authority should require a
certificate from the sanitary inspector that the condition of the building
is satisfactory in sanitary and other respects.
There are 75 premises in the district licensed for public entertainment.
These include 10 cinemas, 14 public houses, 13 church halls, 3 local
authority assembly halls, 21 schools and 14 private dance and other
assembly halls, clubs, etc. 79 visits of inspection were made to these
premises. Only occasionally was anything found needing to be remedied
In addition to the attention of those responsible for the maintenance
of these premises being drawn to any unsatisfactory condition, reports on