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During the year 8 vans were found to be overcrowded, and
notices were served, where necessary, to abate the nuisance.
Rag Flock Act, 1911.
This Act was passed to prevent the use of material known
as rag flock, unless such material complies with the standard of
cleanliness laid down in the Act.
Rag flock is no longer being used in Battersea for stuffing
bedding and furniture. Cotton flock appears now to have been
substituted for the purpose.
Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919.
This Act, which became operative on the 1st January, 1920,
imposes on local authorities and occupiers of premises additional
responsibilities in connection with rat repression.
During 1923 the work carried out under the Council's Rat
Repression Scheme is summarised as follows:—
Premises visited 1,744 Contracts renewed 13
Poison baits used 44,050 Value of contracts £178 0 0
Dead rats found 1,727 Cash for poison bait £27 3 6
Drains were tested at 94 premises in connection with this
work, and in 52 cases were found to be defective. Most of these
defective drains were in private houses. As the presence of rats
in houses is usually regarded as prima facie evidence of drain
defects, the work of the Rat Officer therefore is carried on in close
co-operation with that of the district Sanitary Inspectors.
The methods employed under the Rat Repression Scheme have
been described in previous Annual Reports. It is only necessary,
therefore, to state that as an inspection of the summarised figures
shows, the work done during the year under this head has been as
satisfactory as in previous years.
* Including one shed.
† Including one cottage.