SHOPS (also article in Vol. V.).—The Shops' Regulations Acts, 1892 to 1904, with the Regulations, dated 13th February 1905, by the Home Secretary as to early closing contain much that is of importance to shopkeepers.
Young versons,—The Shop Hours' Act. 1892. provides that no voui verson under eighteen years is to work in a shop more than seventy-four hours per week including meal times. Those working in a factory on the same day must not work altogether more than the number of hours allowed by the Factory Acts. Notice of this Act must be hung up in the shop where young persons are employed under a penalty of forty shillings. The employer is liable on summary conviction to £1 fine for each young person employed contrary to the Act, but on being charged he can prove that he took all due precautions, and on his information the person actually responsible will be brought before the Court and fined, the employer being exonerated. The Council of any county or borough, &c., can appoint an Inspector, who is to act as if under the Factory Acts. A "shop" includes retail and wholesale shops, markets, stalls, ware houses, licensed public-houses, and refreshment houses. The Act does not apply where only the members of the family are employed, dwelling in the same building, or as to members of the employer's family or domestic servants where young persons are employed.
Shop clubs.—The Shop Clubs Act of 1902 renders an employer liable on summary conviction (first offence, £5 ; second offence within one year, £20, but if several persons employed are concerned, he is to be convicted only on one offence) for (1) making it a condition of employment that the workman shall cease to be a member of a Friendly Society ; (2) or that he shall not become a member of such a society, except the shop club or thrift fund of that employer ; (8) making it a condition that he shall join such shop club or thrift fund unless such club or fund has been registered under the Friendly Societies Actr•and duly certified by the Registrar under those Acts. No certificate is to be given unless 41) the shop club or fund gives the workmen a substantial benefit from the employer's contributions as well as from those of the workmen ; (2) that such club or fund is permanent and does not annually or periodically divide its funds, and, except under the Act, the employee is not required to resign on leaving the firm. The Registrar must also be satisfied that 75 per
cent. of the workmen desire the club or fund to be started ; he also considers any objections made. Railways are exempted from the Act and allowed to make it compulsory to join superannuation, insurance, or other funds already existing, to the funds of which the company contributes. On resigning from the firm the employee can remain a member of the club or fund, but cannot act in the management or vote, unless his so remaining is contrary to the rules, then he can get his calculated share on leaving. "Shop club" or "thrift fund" includes any such club or fund connected with a workshop, factory, dock, shop, or warehouse.
Early closing,—The Early Closing of Shops Act, 1904, gives powers t• a local authority to make a Closing Order, subject to confirmation by the central authority, in which the local authority can (1) fix the hours of closing of shops in a district, or shops of a specified class, but not earlier than 7 P.M. and on one day of the week 1 P.M. ; (2) prohibit retail trade after the fixed closing hour in any othei place within the area ; (8) define the shops and trades affected, (4) authorise sales in cases of emergency ; (5) add any other incidental pro visions. But the order cannot apply to fairs or charity bazaars or to any of the businesses scheduled to the Act. Such scheduled businesses are post office business, the sale of medicines, medical and surgical appliances, on or off sale of intoxicating liquors, the sale of refreshments for consumption on the premises, tobacco or newspapers, and the business of a railway book-stall or refreshment room. If the trade in a shop is a mixed one the shop can be kept open for the scheduled trades under conditions fixed by the Closing Order, but conditions as to a place where there is a post-office must be agreed to by the Postmaster - General. The procedure is contained in the Regulations following, and, when finally confirmed, the Order has the effect of an Act of