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The temporary assistance for measuring houses was
discontinued early in the year but applications for permitted
numbers continued to be received (87 in all), and
these were dealt with by the permanent staff. In a number
of cases, also, inspection of rent books revealed failures to
enter the summary and permitted numbers.
With the progress of the new housing scheme I hope
to be able to state, in my next Annual Report, the abatement
of all known cases of overcrowding.
In addition to the time occupied in measuring houses,
seventy-seven special visits were paid to verify particulars
relating to overcrowded families and other matters in this
connection.
SHOPS ACTS.
A large amount of work, chiefly occasioned by the
Shops Act, 1934, and the Shops (Sunday Trading Restrictions)
Act, 1936, was carried out during the year.
The whole of the Acts are administered by my
Department, which include the hours of closing, weekly
half-holidays, time worked, the provisions relating
to sanitary conveniences, lighting, heating, etc., Sunday
trading, etc.
There appears to have been no instance of intentional
evasion but the explanation of the very complicated
nature of these Acts takes up much time. A visit
lasting more than an hour is not unusual in these cases.
Supervision of hours worked by young persons
(i.e., those under 18 years of age) has called for a great
proportion of the work. All this has been done as tactfully
as possible and visits made so as least to affect the
operations of the shopkeeper concerned.
Two hundred and eighty-one visits were made which,
in many instances, entailed a complete inspection of the
shop and records.
Twenty-two cases of failure to keep the requisite forms
were noted.