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96
RODENT CONTROL
General.—During the year the Rodent Control Scheme, as
approved by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, has
continued, although with the introduction in 1959 of " block " grants
to local authorities, direct financial assistance by the government to
this service ceased.
Of a total of 929 recorded complaints (575 of rats and 354 of
mice), 542 were notifications, 81 re-notifications from occupiers or
other sources and 306 were found during survey. The monthly
average of complaints from all sources was 77 as compared with a
figure of 52 for the previous year.
In addition to the investigations of recorded complaints, 2,033
other surveys were carried out under the Prevention of Damage by
Pest Act, 1949, giving a grand total of 2,656.
During investigations, infestation was found to exist on 13
occasions in local authority's premises, 579 in dwelling houses and
192 in miscellaneous properties and places of business. Of these,
three major infestations were disclosed; two were of rats (in a
Council depot and a canal-side scrap merchants) and one of mice
in an electrical wire works. In all, some 818 treatments were effected
by the local authority and 25 by occupiers or other services.
Notwithstanding the fact that large industrial firms are inclined
to make contracts with servicing companies, periodical treatments
were carried out at 5 industrial premises, 4 wharves and storage
places and at one hospital in the Borough.
Following the policy of tracing the source of each infestation,
11 defective drainage systems were discovered. In these instances
Intimation Notices were served under the Public Health (London)
Act, 1936, and the drainage defects made good by the owners of
the various properties concerned.
Calls were made on the services of the Borough Engineer's staff
to enter sewers during colour-tests or in the tracing of disused drains
and also to the lifting of paving to locate sources of infestation ;
these services were readily available.
Occupiers of business premises and also householders readily
report any known or suspected infestation, and the value of routine
investigation made in these properties is emphasised by the fact
that it is rare to find occupiers tolerating infestation after being made
aware of the service available under the Rodent Control scheme.
The Rodent Control personnel have performed their duties with
diligence throughout the year and have given the Department good
service.