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54
Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919.
This Act, which became operative on January 1st, 1919,
imposes upon local authorities and occupiers of premises additional
responsibilities in connection with rat repression.
The Council delegated their powers under the Act to
the Health Committee, who decided to appoint an Organising
Officer to carry out the provisions of the Act under the direction
and supervision of the Medical Officer of Health.
The attention to the inhabitants of the Borough was
drawn to the provisions of the Act by posters, and they were
invited to co-operate with the Council in taking all practicable
steps to destroy rats and to prevent their premises becoming
infested.
The following letter was, on the instruction of the Health
Committee, sent td the occupiers of factories, warehouses and
large business premises, in the Borough:—
Enclosure.
Dear ,
Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919.
The Borough Council have recently engaged an experienced
Organising Officer to direct measures for the destruction of
rats and mice in their district under the powers conferred upon
them under the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919, and
the attention of the inhabitants of the Borough has already
been called to the provision of the Act by public posters.
I would remind you, however, that Section 1 provides—
"that any person who fails to take such steps as may,
from time to time, be necessary and reasonably practicable
for the destruction of rats and mice on or in any land of
which he is the occupier, or for preventing such land from
becoming infested with rats or mice, shall be liable, on
summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding five pounds
(£5), or, where he has been served with a notice under this
Act requiring him to take such steps, not exceeding twenty
pounds (£20)."
(N.B.—The expression "land" includes any buildings
and any other erection on land, and any cellar, sewer,
drain or culvert in or under land).
The Health Committee of the Council are now considering
a scheme for administering the provision of the Act, and
I am instructed to inform you that, although the liability to