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18
Storage of Food.
No accommodation was provided in 76 instances; of the remaining 26 it was
only satisfactory in 6.
In many cases the food cupboard was placed next to the fire and was without
external ventilation.
Lighting of Staircases.
Of 56 staircases inspected only 7 were provided with artificial light.
As regards natural light 8 out of the 56 staircases would not comply with
the proposed requirements.
Cooking of Food.
The provision of an open fire only may be deemed unsatisfactory; 20 such
instances were found.
National Rat Campaign.
In accordance with the suggestions of the Ministry of Agriculture and
Fisheries a National Bat Week was again observed in 1922, the dates selected
being 6th-llth November.
In connection with the observation of this special week in the Borough, and
in order to assist in giving wide publicity to the importance of concerted efforts
for the extermination of rats, arrangements were made for a Conference on the
subject on the opening day of Bat Week, Monday, 6th November. The Conference
was held in the Couti Boom, at the Council Offices, and was presided over by the
Bight Worshipful the Mayor of Holborn, Councillor George Harvey, J.P., L.C.C.
The Conference was largely attended, representatives being present from
Government Departments, Naval, Military and Air Forces, County Councils,
Metropolitan Borough Councils, Corporations, Urban and Bural Authorities in
the Home Counties Boards of Guardians, large trading concerns, commercial and
industrial organisations concerned with the importation and distribution of food
stuffs and other businesses likely to harbour rats, etc.
The Conference was addressed by Mr. Ernest C. Beed, Technical Adviser to
the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Sir Frederick Andrewes, O.B.E. of
St. Bartholomew's Hospital, Dr. W. M. Willoughby, Medical Officer of Health of
the Port of London, Dr. Francis J. Allan, Medical Officer of Health of the City
of Westminster, Dr. G. Millson, O.B.E., Medical Officer of Health of Southwark
and Mr. E. C. Claremont, B.Sc., late Bat Bepression Besearch Chemist to the
Ministry of Agriculture.
The crowded attendance at the Conference M'as an evidence of the need for
such a gathering and the widespread desire to deal effectively with the difficult
problem of rat repression.
A small exhibition was held including exhibits from the Bat Bepression
Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and trade exhibits of
traps, poisons and various apparatus connected with rat repression.
In connection with the more local efforts for the observation of Bat Week
in the Borough, preparatory visits were paid by the Sanitary Inspectors to
premises where rats were believed to exist and advice and information given with
a view to securing general and concerted efforts for the suppression of the vermin.