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healthy, able-bodied people. Having attained such an excellent
general standard of cleanliness, it is now our duty to see that
it is maintained, and with modern methods and ideas, there
seems to be no adequate reason why this should not be done.
Rodent Control.
On the 31st March, 1950, the Rats and Mice (Destruction)
Act, 1919, was repealed, and its place taken by the Prevention
of Damage by Pests Act, 1949. This Act is designed to make
permanent provision for preventing loss of food by infestation
and one of its most notable modifications is that a local authority
may now, if they consider it is expedient, after a seven-day
notice, carry out rat destruction work on premises which are
suitably grouped for "block control," recovery of expenses
reasonably incurred being made at a later date. The delay
occasioned by consulting the various interested parties and the
time and trouble taken to persuade the invariable back-slider
is thus avoided and further damage to valuable foodstuffs
stopped.
Owing to their quick rate of breeding, one of the most
important factors in keeping down the rat population is the early
notification of infestation to the Health Department and prevention
by the occupier is best secured by denying access to food
and not providing suitable harbourage for breeding.
The year's figures shew a further increase in the number of
occupiers who have availed themselves of the rodent control
service provided by the Local Authority.

In addition, the Council's sewers are treated with poison bait
twice a year, a test baiting being carried out early in the year to
indicate the points at which the sewers are infested.