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warning was issued, and in the other two, summonses were taken out. The Magistrates convicted
and imposed a fine of 5s. in the first case, and in the second case the summons could not be served
owing to the fact that the offender had given a false name and address to the Council's officer.
There is no doubt that the condition of foot pavements has improved considerably since the
by-law came into operation.
THE RATS AND MICE (DESTRUCTION) ACT, 1919.
This Act, which became operative on January 1st, 1920, involves local authorities and
occupiers of premises in additional responsibilities in connection with the supression of rats. The
first section of the Act reads as follows:—
"Any person who shall fail to take such steps as may from time to time be necessary
"and reasonably practicable for the destruction of rats and mice on or in any land of
"which he is the occupier, or for preventing such land from becoming infested with
"rats or mice, shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five
"pounds, or, where he has been served with a notice under this Act requiring him to
" take such steps, not exceeding twenty pounds."
In the Borough, the Borough Council are the authority required to execute and enforce this
Act ; but the London County Council are responsible for rat repression in sewers vested in the
County Council. The Borough Council are also required to observe the requirements of the Act
in respect of any land of which they are the occupiers.
The Borough Council may, within their own area, give instructions by public notice as to the
most efficient methods that can be adopted both individually and collectively with a view to the
destruction of rats and mice. Also, in the event of the occupier failing to take necessary action,
the Council may serve notice requiring him to take steps for the purpose of destroying rats and
mice and of preventing his land or premises becoming infested, or, after 24 hours' notice, they may
enter the premises, carry out the work and recover any reasonable expenses from him.
The Council have delegated their powers under the Act to the Public Health Committee, and
each Sanitary Inspector makes inspections in his district for the purpose of detecting rat-infested
premises and reports to the Medical Officer of Health cases in which the occupiers are not taking
all practical steps to destroy the rats or to prevent their premises becoming infested.
A Rat Officer is employed at a wage of £4 per week to assist in the work of rat destruction
under the supervision of the Sanitary Inspectors. He has carried out good work during the year
as is evidenced by the following table:—
Number of individual Premises visited by the Rat Officer
on receipt of complaint 350
Total number of visits paid 2,436
Number of Poison Baits laid during the year 37,940
„ „ disappeared 35,440
„ ,, removed by the Rat Officer 2,500
Number of premises where concreting of basement floors has
been carried out under the direction of Sanitary Inspectors
to prevent ingress of rats 25
Number of premises where other repairs have been carried
out under the direction of Sanitary Inspectors to prevent
the ingress of rats 44
Number of sewer defects allowing egress of rats made good 15
Number of Statutory Notices served under the Rats and
Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919 10
Number of premises cleared of rats 263
Barium Carbonate has been the poison in general use, but in a few cases Extract of Squills has
been tried. 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.
The laying and removing of baits and the giving of advice occupies a good deal of the Rat
Officer's time, but the simple poisoning of rats would be of little practical value unless the means
of ingress to premises were dealt with, therefore this Officer supplements the work of Sanitary
Inspectors in searching for rat inlets and also helps them in inducing occupiers to concrete rat
holes, basement floors, etc.
From the above table it will be seen that a considerable amount of concreting and other repair
work has been carried out for the purpose of preventing rats obtaining an entrance to premises,
and it may be mentioned that on 33 occasions during the year the foot pavement was taken up
in various parts of the Borough in order to destroy rat runs and nests underneath. It is not an
uncommon experience to find that rats make their way through defects in sewers, particularly the old
brick sewers, to the under side of the foot pavement. Owing to the warmth derived from the sun's
rays striking down on the pavement, this position appears to be favourable for nesting purposes.
In addition to being warm, the position is one where the rats are not likely to be disturbed whilst
rearing their young. From their runs and nests immediately underneath the foot pavement, the
rats, in order to obtain food, make their way into the basements of neighbouring houses and shops