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38.
PREVENTION OF DAMAGE BY PESTS ACT, 1949.
RODENT INFESTATION.
The work of this important branch of Public Health is carried out
by a staff consisting of one Supervisor, one Investigator and four
Operatives under the general control of the Chief Sanitary Inspector.
The main Rodent Infestation in the Borough is caused by the Ship Rat.
A regular system of investigation is carried out by the Investigator
who makes the initial inspection and assesses the degree of infestation.
During the year some 1910 inspections of investigation were made.
Business premises treated totalled 403 against 388 in 1949 and
dwelling houses 592 against 598 in 1949.
The number of complaints and premises treated was greater than in
1949 but the infestations in the large majority of the cases treated
were not so severe as in the previous years, it being very noticeable
that many of these were of a minor character. A large proportion of
the 592 dwelling houses treated was for mice and again most of the
cases were of a minor character. The resident population appear to
recognise the value of early notification of mice infestation which
makes the work of treatment much easier. No charge is made for work
done at occupied dwellings.
The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 came into force on the
1st April, 1950 and this Act repealed the Rats and Mice Destruction
Act, 1919 in its entirety. The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act
contains many new provisions to enable local authorities to deal with
rodent and other pest infestations. Section 3 places the obligation
on the occupier to give notice to the local authority if he is aware
that rats or mice are living or resorting on his premises in substantial
numbers. Section 4 gives local authorities power to serve a
notice requiring the owner or occupier- to take reasonable steps to
eradicate rats or mice within a given time. The local authority may
specify the form of treatment, prescribe times at which treatment is
to be carried out and the works required to rat-proof the premises.
Section 5 provides that where the requirements of a Notice are not
complied with, the local authority may themselves take those steps
and recover any expenses reasonably incurred by them in so doing.
During the year 3 Notices were served under this Act and in all
oases complied with.
Two maintenance treatments of the sewers in the borough were
carried out in the period under review, the first in June, 1950 and
the second commencing in December, 1950, when 399 manholes and side
entrances were baited on each occasion.