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Drains were tested at 54 premises in connection with this
work, and in 35 cases were found to be defective. Most of these
defective drains were in private houses. The presence of rats
in houses is usually regarded as prima facie evidence of drain
defects. The work of the Rat Officer therefore is carried on in close
co-operation with that of the district Sanitary Inspectors.
As in previous years an intensive effort for the repression of
rats was organised during "Rat Week" (3rd to 8th November).
Bait was laid in the sewers, and was supplied to all applicants
during the week free of charge. The co-operation of the public
was invited by posters and advertisements and other forms of
propaganda including the exhibition of the rat film lent by the
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries at a local cinema. The results
were good, many hundreds of rats being found dead, and the
interest of the public in the necessity for rat repression being
stimulated.
The methods employed under the Rat Repression Scheme have
been described in previous Annual Reports. It is only necessary,
therefore, to state that as an inspection of the summarised figures
shows, the work done during the year under this head has been as
satisfactory as in previous years.
Fouling of Footways by Dogs.
The following by-law was made by the Council in 1927 and
renewed in 1929:—
"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."
During 1930 5 persons found offending against this by-law
were summoned at the South Western Police Court, and fines ranging
from 2s. 6d. to 6s. were inflicted in 4 cases, the fifth defendant
being ordered to pay 2s. costs (vide page 83).