OXFORD grocers opposed the opening of school tuck shops.

The Oxford and District Grocers’ Association made a strong protest in 1954 against the sale of sweets and biscuits in schools.

Secretary Mr S Kerton told a meeting of members: “This is unfair trading of the worst kind. We have to pay rates as traders and high rates too, but schools don’t pay those rates.”

He said unless they made a vigorous protest against the growing practice, the problem would become one of national importance and would have to be dealt with on a national scale.

He added: “It is our job to protect our members against this sort of thing.”

Members agreed to write a letter to the city education authority protesting about the policy.

At the same meeting, the question of smoking in grocers’ shops was raised.

Members agreed that it was undesirable, but said that if shop workers were banned from smoking, the same rule should apply to customers.

Mr Kerton was also in favour of banning dogs from food shops. “They are a menace,” he said.

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