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In one case where the department was asked to advise respecting the employment
of a rat catcher the action resulted in the Company concerned arranging for
the permanent employment of the firm undertaking the rat repression work.
Rat Week.
In the observation of Eat Week in the Borough we endeavoured as in previous
years to secure during the six days, 3rd to 8th November, intensive action and
co-operation by occupiers in rat infested blocks. As a corollary to this, the
importance of systematic routine work for the extermination of rats and the
prevention of rat infestation was emphasised.
Suitable poisons were sold in the Public Health Department and an increased
quantity of rat baits laid in the sewers under the Council's control. It is customary
to put down about 400 baits per week. During Eat Week the number was
increased to about 2,800. The sewermen reported that dead rats are not often
seen and they expressed the view that when dead the rats are washed away down
the sewers, and further that there has been a decrease in the number of rats
seen in the sewers during the past few years.
The results obtained from the special work in Eat Week are included in the
summary table on page 24.
Smoke Abatement.
The smoke shafts in the Borough were frequently kept under observation and
in 107 cases the inspections were recorded. A number of the observations were
made in the early morning when smoke pollution is more prevalent. Frequently
the observations extended for periods of not less than one hour. Two complaints
were received during the year of nuisances from the emission of smoke; as the
result of the inspections made three notices were served.
It is gratifying to know that the domestic smoke problem is now receiving
more attention and the control of domestic smoke appears to be reaching a more
practical stage. Greater interest is being taken in the production and supply of
smokeless fuel. In this connection it may be observed that gas coke is still largely
neglected as a domestic fuel yet a good dry gas coke gives an ideal fire where the
householder is sufficiently interested to learn how to use it. Unfortunately much
coke is supplied to the public in a wet condition; all coke burnt should be quite
dry. Vertical coke, i.e., gas coke prepared in modern vertical retorts yields
excellent fires in the all fire-brick grate; it only costs half as much as a coal fire. It
would seem possible that we are nearing the time when the burning of raw coal
in a domestic grate will be prohibited.
Personal observation by burning smokeless fuel in a slow combustion open
grate shows that given ordinarily careful addition of fuel to the fire in time to
prevent it going down a satisfactory fire is achieved with a warm dull red glow.
Smokeless fuel should be invaluable in those instances, both domestic and office
where for some reason down draught is difficult to prevent. We must all be
cognisant of some chimneys where in spite of the careful attention of competent
engineers their efforts do not result in removal of down draught, and in stormy
weather the room, supposed to be ventilated by the chimney, becomes full of
smoke with consequent defilement of valuable papers, some of which have to be
handled frequently.