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34
(iv) Shops.
The Shops (Sunday Trading Restriction) Act, 1936, which
came into operation on 1st May, 1937, considerably augmented
the duties of the Shops Inspectors, duties which are at present
undertaken by the Sanitary Inspectors. This will be appreciated
from the examination of the under-mentioned statistics.
Approximate number of shops in the Borough 864
Approximate number of shop assistants:
Male 1,292
Female 1,034
Total 2,326
This latter figure includes 390 young persons under 18 years
of age who are subject to special legislation in relation to hours
worked by virtue of the Shops Act, 1934. Further, seventy
shop-keepers employ approximately 120 assistants on Sundays.
The Home Office, in a circular dated 15th April, 1937,
suggested that Local Authorities should review their arrangements
for the administration of these Acts. A special report
on this work was subsequently considered by the Council, but
it was decided not to appoint a whole-time inspector, and that
the duties should continue to be carried out by the existing
officers.
An important happening from a hygienic point of view was
the coming into operation on 1st March, 1937, of byelaws made
under Section 78 of the Middlesex County Council Act, 1934,
for securing the cleanliness of any premises used for the business
of hairdresser or barber.
No legal action was found to be necessary under the Shops
Acts, 1912-1936, and in two cases only were contraventions of
the requirements of the Shops Act, 1934, relating to sufficient
temperature in shops dealt with. In both cases the matter was
rectified upon the owner's attention being called to the
requirements of the Act.
(v) Smoke Abatement.
In spite of the large number of chimney shafts in connection
with the many factories within the Borough area, very few
complaints of smoke nuisances occurred and in all cases willing
co-operation of the factory owners was forthcoming upon
attention being drawn to the matter.