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53
Shops Act, 1912.—This Act received the Royal Assent on
29th March, 1912, and came into operation on 1st May, 1912, and in
my Report for that year I dealt with the subject of the complexity
of its administration.
Early in 1913 (7th March), an Act amending the Shops Act
received the Royal Assent, whereby the provisions of Section 1 of the
Shops Act, 1912, were amended to meet the requirements of
refreshment houses.
The following Closing Orders and Half-Holiday Orders were in
operation at the commencement of the year:—
(1) Hairdressers' and Barbers' Closing Order, 1909.
(2) Butchers' Closing Order, 1912.
(3) Grocers', General Shopkeepers' and Provision Dealers'
Half-Holiday Order, 1912,
(4) Chemists' and Druggists' Half-Holiday Order, 1912.
(5) West Ham Bakers' Half-Holiday Order, 1913, fixing the
half-holiday on Thursday at 2 o'clock.
With regard to the last mentioned Order a petition was received
from the Master Bakers' Association of South Essex praying
for the revocation of same. This petition was, on the instructions
of the Council, verified, in accordance with the Regulations,
and the majority of the occupiers being in favour of such
revocation the Council recommended that the necessary steps be
taken. Notices of the Petition were advertised in the local Press,
and also sent to each occupier on the Register. Several objections
were received to any alteration in the Order, and after submission
of the whole of the facts to the Home Office, the Secretary
of State decided to hold a Local Inquiry where any person