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Barium Carbonate and Extract of Squills have been the poisons in general use. Each bait
contains sufficient poison to kill one rat, and is made up to about the size of a lump of sugar by
adding meal, flour, fat and other ingredients known to be attractive to rodent vermin.
An account of the methods of work adopted by the Rat Officer appears in the report for 1920.
During the National Rat Week—November 6th to November 11th-the Borough Engineer
kindly placed at my disposal the gang of flushers for the purpose of laying poison baits in sewers.
The baits were placed in the side entrances to the sewers, which are generally connected with
the sewers by galleries and are about ten feet distant therefrom. As the galleries fall about four
feet from the entrance level to the sewer level, it will be seen that the bait was well above the
general level of the water.
Five thousand baits were laid at one hundred and sixty-one entrances, and all disappeared.
HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES.
NEW HOUSING ACCOMMODATION.
1. Provided by the Council.
The provision of additional housing accommodation under the Housing, Town Planning, etc.,
Act, 1919, and amending Acts, has been delegated by the Council to a Special Housing Committee,
which Committee have been given all the powers possessed by the Council in regard to the
preparation and execution of housing schemes except the power to borrow money or make a rate.
After considering a report submitted by the Medical Officer of Health in 1919, which indicated
that 314 houses would be required in the next three years to meet the needs of the Borough, the
Special Housing Committee prepared three schemes which were approved by the Council and the
Ministry of Health. The following are particulars in regard to each scheme :—
(a) Scheme for the purchase and conversion into flats of large houses.
The Ministry of Health, acting as agents ot the Council, purchased, in the northern half
of the Borough, 19 houses which were converted, during the year 1920, into 102 flats or
maisonettes.
The flats are all occupied and provide accommodation for about 400 persons.
The cost of acquisition and conversion into flats was £83,415 and the total annual rentals
(exclusive of rates and taxes) amount to £5,934.
(b) Mary Place Scheme.
This scheme, comprising a group of 32 cottages known as Avondale Park Gardens,
was completed in 1922 at a cost, for land, building, etc. of £35,750.
Each of these cottages consists of two living rooms and three bedrooms and the total
rentals received amount to £1,275 per annum (exclusive of rates and taxes).
These 32 cottages provide accommodation for about 250 persons.
(c) St. Quintin Estate Scheme.
The land originally acquired measured nine acres, the price paid being £13,500 or
£1,500 per acre. The lay-out of the land was approved by the Ministry of Health and
provided for the erection of 208 cottages and maisonettes.
The first and second sections, comprising 8 cottages and 76 flats, have been completed
and all the premises are occupied. Each cottage consists of a living room, kitchen, scullery
and four bedrooms and is let at an exclusive sum of 18s. per week. Of the flats, 32 contain
a living room, kitchen and three bedrooms and each is rented at a sum of 14s. per week,
exclusive of rates, etc.; the remaining 44 flats consist of living room, kitchen and two bedrooms,
and each is let at an exclusive rental of 1ls. per week.
The cost of erecting these 8 cottages and 76 flats was £58,100 and accommodation has
been found for about 400 persons.
In view of the fact that there was little likelihood of the remaining land being built upon
or otherwise dealt with within the period prescribed by the Housing (Assisted Scheme)
Regulations, 1919, namely, three years from the passing of the Housing, Town Planning,
etc., Act, 1919, the Council, during the course of 1922, placed themselves in communication
with the Ministry of Health and received a reply in which it was stated that it was the
Ministry's wish that the Council should dispose of the surplus land.
The Housing Committee have strongly urged on the Minister of Health that he should
consent to the Council proceeding with a further section of the St. Quintin Scheme, which
would embrace the erection of 38 maisonettes and 5 cottages, and it was pointed out
that if building operations were resumed, it would be a means of providing work for a
number of unemployed men resident in the Borough, but the Minister has not altered his
decision.
Looking to the fact that the Minister of Health in the first place urged the Council to
purchase land for the erection of houses and to proceed with the construction of roads and
sewers, and also approved of the lay out, the above decision is much to be regretted.