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SHOPS ACT, 1950.
The Shops Act, 1950 which received the Royal Assent on the 28th July came into
operation on the 1st October, 1950.
This is purely a consolidating Act and makes no change in the existing law. Its
enactment, however, helps to prepare the way for the introduction in due course of amending
legislation in the light of the report of the Gowers Committee on Closing Hours of
Shops.
The Act repeals and replaces the Shops Act, 1912-1936, the Retail Meat Dealers®
Shops (Sunday Closing) Act, 1936 and a few related provisions, including Sections 8, 11,
12 and 13 of the Young Persons (Employment) Act, 1938. Section 2 of the Act (interalia)
re-enacts the provisions of Defence Regulation 60 AB regarding the hours of closing
of shops during the-winter months, which commence on the first Sunday in November in any
year and finish on the day before the first Sunday in March in the succeeding year*
Section 76 (2) of the Act saves any existing instrument made or other thing whatsoever
done under any of the repealed enactments. This includes any notice given under
any of the repealed Acts or Regulations or Orders made under them.
The total number of visits made during the year was 2,650 and 301 infringements
were detected. The majority of these were of a technical nature in respect of which 276
verbal cautions were given regarding the exhibition of forms and the keeping of required
records of assistants* times of employment etc. In cases of a more persistent nature,
25 written warnings were issued.
The actual closing hours of shops, however, have been regulated more by the
restrictions on lighting, and the limited amount of goods for sale. The infringements
were of a minor character, and it was not found necessary to take legal proceedings in
any case.
One full time Inspector is employed in connection with the provisions of the Act
relating to hours of closing, hours of employment, etc., whilst those parts of Section 38
which provide for ventilation, lighting, temperature and sanitary conveniences are enforced
by the Sanitary Inspectors.
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