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104
Number of shops visited 1,812
there were 875 visits to premises In connection with the 'health and
comfort' provisions of the Act, and 48 premises were found to be unsatisfactory.
Visits regarding records required to be kept were 873 and In 94 cases
the records were found to be not properly kept.
933 shops were visited after closing hours and 368 visits were made
during holiday closing times.
Though the great majority of shop-keepers are co-operative In the matter
of closing hours, It was necessary to Issue verbal cautions in 61 cases and
to write warning letters in 22 Instances.
One persistent offender was summoned and fined £1 for failing to display
notices as required In multi-trade shops.
Number of shop assistants employed -
Males 1,153
Females 1,813
Young persons M. 81
" " F. 147
3,194
It was noted during the year that in 115 Instances there was a change
of occupier; in 44 cases the occupier and the trade changed and In 5 Instances
the occupier changed the trade.
Arising from requests received from the majority of the persons concerned
the Council made Orders during the year in respect of the trades of Monumental
Masons and Motor Car Dealers exempting those trades from the half-day closing
provisions of the Act.
there were 6 shops registered in respect of Sunday Trading by Members of
the Jewish faith.
Pharmacy and Poisons Act 1933
Number of persons listed to retail Part II poisons 174 (Renewals - 162:
New applications - 16. Under both headings - 4). There were 237 visits made
primarily in connection with storage of poisons.
Explosives Act 1875
Number of premises registered 166; (Renewals 123: New applications 45;
Under both headings 2).
The type of explosives with which the department Is generally concerned
consists of fireworks. The Council have been much concerned of recent years
with regard to the indiscriminate handling and explosion of fireworks,
particularly by young children. Around the beginning of November 64 special
observations were kept on registered premises and 4 summonses were Issued for
selling to persons "apparently" under the age of 13 years (vide the Act).
In 3 cases fines of £1 were imposed and in the other case the Bench dismissed
the case and awarded £l,ls,0d, costs as they were of opinion that the boy
concerned could have passed for 13 (although in fact he was 10 years of age).
The question of making bye-laws with regard to the period of sale of fire
works was being Investigated and the co-operation of the Police regarding the
explosion of fireworks was sought and obtained.