View report page

30
FOULING OF FOOTPATHS BY DOGS.
Towards the end of 1921, the Council succeeded in obtaining the approval of the following
by-law for the good rule and government of the Royal Borough:—
" No person being in charge of a dog in any street or public place and having the dog on a
lead shall allow or permit such dog to deposit its excrement upon the public footway.
" Any person offending against this by-law shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding 40s.
" This by-law shall cease to be in force after 31st day of December, 1923, unless a by-law
confirming and continuing its provisions has been duly made and come into force
before that date."
This by-law was made in pursuance of Section 23 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1882,
Section 16 of the Local Government Act, 1888, and Section 5 of the London Government Act,
1889.
In 1923 the by-law was sanctioned without limit of time and the Council now have a permanent
measure by which they can secure a considerable improvement in the cleanliness of the public
footways.
The Council have issued leaflets which have been posted in various places in the Borough and
delivered by hand to a large number of dog-owners. Attention has been called to the by-law by
slips attached to the rate demand notices and the matter has received notice in the local press.
Two officers in the Public Health Department make observations and during 1926 they reported
three breaches of the by-law to the Public Health Committee. Summonses were taken out, and in
each case a fine of 10/- was imposed.
The number of convictions under this by-law during the past five years is 10.

An account of the methods of destruction adopted by the Rat Officer appears in the report for
1923.
During the National Rat Week Campaign, held in November, the following special measures
were adopted.
Sewers.—Five pairs of flushers were placed at the disposal of the Council's Rat Officer to
assist him in the laying of baits of barium in the entrances to sewers. In South Kensington 91
entrances were baited daily and in North Kensington 97, the baits disappearing in the majority of
cases between the flushers' daily visits. Thirty thousand barium baits in all were laid in the sewer
entrances during the week.
Wood Lane Depot.—One thousand two hundred barium baits were laid in the metal and other
dumps.
Railways.—Companies whose lines are within the boundaries of the Borough were requested to
co-operate in baiting and in every case expressed their willingness to do so. One company successfully
used gas in a number of rat holes.
Cinemas.—By special arrangements with the proprietors of several cinemas in the Borough,
lantern-slides were shown at all performances during Rat Week informing the public that advice
and assistance in connection with rat extermination can be obtained on application to the Public
Health Department.
VERMINOUS PREMISES CLEANSED.
Four hundred and thirty-two verminous houses were cleansed during the year by landlords in
response to notices served under the powers conferred by the London County Council (General
Powers) Act, 1922. The Council's Rat Officer, in addition to his duties under the Rats and Mice
(Destruction) Act, carries out disinfection of verminous premises in certain cases. The following is
a summary of his activities in this direction: —
Number of premises visited 101
Number of rooms sprayed with Solution "D" 129