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40
Report to the Chairman and Members of the Public Health Committee
on the Anti Fly and Mosquito Campaign, 1947
Madam Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Committee will recollect that in September 1946 the
suggestion, was made that an Anti Fly Campaign be instituted for the
Summer period of 1947. This was followed up by a more detailed
report to the Committee at the year end which suggested the
materials to be used, the staff required and the general method of
working the proposed scheme.
It can be said at once that the measure of success attained was,
if, anything, greater than was anticipated when the scheme was
originally outlined. In this connection, I quote the following from
a report from the Borough Engineer on the treatment of house
refuse :—
"I have now received a report from the Council's Cleansing
Superintendent on the measures taken in connection with the
Anti Fly Campaign, and, from his report to me, this seems to
have been a great success, the dustmen not being troubled with
flies in the containers. The Depots, offices and quarters
occupied by the Superintendents and Foreman have been
quite clear of flies, which pleasure they seem never to have
before experienced.
From the terms of this report, it would seem that, so far
as the Cleansing Section of this Department is concerned,
your efforts have been very successful."
The scheme commenced on the 21st May, 1947 and was completed
on the 30th September. It was realised at the outset that
the major factors to be controlled included house refuse, static
water sites, ponds, ditches, cafes and food shops generally.
In establishing the scheme to cover house refuse, by arrangement
with the Borough Engineer, the Dust Foremen were given an outline
of what was intended and their co-operation sought. Briefly,
this meant the addition, by hand, at each weekly collection of a small
quantity of Gammexane Powder to each refuse bin. In addition,
spraying with D.D.T. and the use of Powder to be carried out in the
Council's Depots, in bulk containers, mass refuse, stables, etc.
The method of adding the Powder to the dustbins needed
careful adjustment because such questions as cost of material,
man's time, possibility of injury (Dermatitis) had to be considered.
In view of the original difficulties, this part of the scheme is regarded
as having been an unqualified success.