COLD FEET IN SHOPS AND OFFICES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3161, 13 August 1917, Page 3

COLD FEET IN SHOPS AND OFFICES

—* : HEATING APPLIANCES. A judgment of some, interest to shopkeepers and owners of business premises was delivered bv Mr. S. 13. M'Carthy, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court on Saturday morning, in the case in which Mr. G. H. Lightfoot, Inspector of Factories, proceeded! against the Te Aro House Drapery Company. T.td., under, the amended Shops and Offices Act, 1913, for failing to provide suitable heating appliances in their shop in Cuba Street., His Worship said that the Act provided for the better sanitation of shop 3 and offices, and laid down certain rules to be observed.' These, rules dealt with cleanliness, freedom from smell, leakage from nuisances, privy accommodation for both sexes, overcrowding, air space, lighting, and drinking water, and in addition suitable heating appliances to tho satisfaction of the inspector. In the defendant company's shop there were emploved all the year round a number of assistants, male and female, whose duties were mostly of a sedentary character. "Unless' tho premises were artificially heated the assistants, especially those working in parts of tho shop, would suffer considerable discomfort, more especially -from cold feet. The Inspector drew the attention of the manager of the defendant company to the lack of heating appliances, and on the same dav the secretary of the company wrote to the Labour Department requesting some indication as to what the Department required. The Department did not recflmmend any particular kind of heating apparatus, so long as a ,minimum of 60 degrees of heat was maintained, but mentioned a system stocked by the Wellington Gas Company. The defendant company approached the Gas Companv and found that it would cost. JE32C Bs. to instal the system, but were unable to secure a guarantee that when installed the system would maintain a CO-degrees standard. The defendant company did pot instal the system, and there were others that would maintain the required heat. The company's onlv method of heating was Try th'e use of ordinary gas jets, and these did not prove efficient for the purpose, tho temperature ranging from 58 to 02 degrees. ;■ His Worship held that the defendant companv must be convicted, and in lieu of imposing a fine the defendant would be orered to provide suitable heating appliances to the satisfaction ?f *ho Inspector of Factories, such appliances to be installed not later than Apn 30. 1918. The defendant was also ordered to pay costs. Mr. A. W. Blair, who appeaTOU tor the defendant company, said the decision was a very important one to shopkeepers, and asked that security be fixed for appeal. Secnritv was fi'xetl on an appeal of fact at <£10. v