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13
It has been the Councils' policy for many years to deter
the use of caravans in the area as permanent dwellings.
During the year two applications for consent were
received, both of which were refused. Action was taken which
secured the removal of 45 other moveable dwellings and the
cessation of use of one caravan in respect of the use of which
no consent had been given. These figures include moveable
dwellings occupied by the wandering gypsy type of caravan
dweller, who gave some trouble from time to time.
Shops
All shops were regularly inspected, the department
administering the whole of the provisions of the Shops Act,
1950, the frequency of inspection depending upon the class
of business carried on.
Two licences were renewed to keep pet shops.
The occupier of one shop renewed his licence to deal in
game.
The "late day" for the general closing hours of shops in
the area was Friday, but shopkeepers remained free to fix their
own half-day closing, subject to the provisions of the Shops
Act. Most shops closed for half day on Wednesday.
There was no evidence of shops remaining open after the
closing hours, but a number of shops opened on Sundays and
inspections were made in connection with the limited range
of articles permitted to be sold on that day.
Food Premises
Regular inspections of all types of food premises were
made, special attention and more frequent visits being made
to catering establishments, premises registered under Section
16 of the Food and Drugs Act, bakehouses and other places
where food is actually prepared.
Efforts were continued to secure adequate protection for
foodstuffs exposed for sale, but it was a hard task to maintain
the ground already won. The impact of the self-service
stores encouraged other traders to modify their methods so as
to provide some degree of self-service. In some cases it was
felt that the standard of food hygiene suffered as a consequence.
Such partial changeovers often resulted in the use of
display units in a way for which they were not designed.
Subsequent criticisms tended to be resented a little by traders
who had neglected to seek the department's views before
buying expensive equipment.