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infestation is due to the defective condition of the drains. The
Sanitary Inspectors are available to assist owners and occupiers
of buildings by offering advice as to the most suitable methods to be
employed to destroy these vermin. The Council also issues an
advisory leaflet on this subject, and poison baits are issued free
from the Public Health Department.
During the year 173 complaints were received relating to this
form of nuisance and were investigated.
The activities of the Council during National Rat Week were
reported to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries as follows: —
National Rat Week.
I desire to report upon the special measures employed during the period
November 2nd to 7th, 1936, to give effect to the request of the Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries for concerted action during Rat Week with a view to the
destruction of rats and mice. These were as follows: —
1, The specially designed double-crown poster which was displayed for the
first time last year was again posted on the Notice Boards at the Municipal
Buildings and on the Council's sand-bins throughout the Borough.
2. Handbills containing notes on rat repression and on the duties of the
public under the provisions of the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919,
were distributed from the Public Libraries, Baths and Infant Welfare
Centres in the Borough during Rat Week.
3. A personal appeal was made to proprietors of business premises in the
Borough, where such premises were suspected to be peculiarly liable to
infestation by reason of the nature of the business carried on, to co-operate
with the Council's Officers in the special efforts which were being directed
during that week to exterminate rats. The number of such letters sent
out by my department was 2,170.
4. Rat poison baits were available for issue free on application to the Public
Health Department, and I understand from the Borough Engineer and
Surveyor that the sewers of the Council were baited during Rat Week, such
work being carried out in conjunction with the Main Drainage Department
of the London County Council.
Your obedient Servant,
(Signed) H. W. BARNES, Medical Officer of Health.
Nuisances Caused from Pigeons
Two complaints were received of nuisances caused by the
presence of pigeons having or believed to have no owner. In one
case the Public Health Committee directed the Borough Engineer
and Surveyor to take appropriate action in accordance with the
provisions of Section 121 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936.
No action was, however, taken by the Council in respect of the
other complaint as proof was not established that the number of
pigeons present was in excess of a reasonable number.
Fouling of Footpaths by dogs
Summary proceedings were taken in 5 cases during the year
for non-compliance with the Council's by-law prohibiting the
fouling of footways by dogs on a lead.