View report page

4
The new allocation of the food inspection duties between
Food Inspectors and District Inspectors worked smoothly
and well. Broadly speaking, the two Food and Drugs Inspectors deal with all food premises except eating or drinking
establishments.
INCREASE OF RENT AND MORTGAGE
RESTRICTIONS ACT, 1920/1939.
During the year 12 applications were received for certificates under the above Act, and in 9 cases certificates were
granted.
This total includes three applications from owners, all of
which were issued as the work specified had been completed
satisfactorily.
RODENT CONTROL.
Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919.
Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949.
An important change in the law took place at the end of
March, when the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919, was
repealed and replaced by the Prevention of Damage by Pests
Act, 1949. Part I of this Act, which deals with rats and mice,
has made fundamental changes and the primary obligation
is now upon the local authority to ensure that, as far as
practicable, its area is kept free from rats and mice. Under
the old Act this primary duty was laid upon the individual
occupier, who was liable to a penalty if he had failed to take
necessary and reasonable steps to destroy rats or mice in
property occupied by him or failed to take reasonable steps
to prevent infestation. Henceforth, the occupier is required
to notify the local authority or, in the case of food premises,
the Minister of Food, in all cases where it comes to his knowledge that rats or mice are living on or resorting to his premises
in substantial numbers.
The Minister has undertaken to inform the particular local
authority of all such notifications received.
The new Act empowers the local authority to serve notices
requiring the carrying out of specified treatments, structural
repairs, or other works upon the owner or occupier of infested
premises. This important new inclusion of owners will overcome a long-felt weakness in the law, and it should be possible
in the future to secure the execution of necessary rat proofing
works which it would not have been reasonable to require of
an occupier.
Local authorities have lost the statutory power to enter
premises and deal with infestations themselves after giving