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22
As a matter of routine baits are regularly laid in the Council's sewers. In
Eat Week the number of such baits was increased fourfold. The Borough
Engineer and Surveyor reports that the result of using the increased quantity of
bait is that there is more evidence of dead rats and, speaking generally, the rat
" content " of the sewers is undoubtedly diminishing.
In addition, communications were sent to chemists and hardware dealers
asking them to stock and display suitable poisons and traps both before and during
Eat Week. To a limited extent the request was complied with, more especially
by hardware dealers.
Literature on rat proofing was distributed, including copies of the Ministry of
Agriculture Bulletin No. 30.
The results obtained from the special work in Eat Week are included in the
summary table on page 21.
Smoke Abatement.
The smoke shafts in the Borough were kept under frequent inspection, 209
observations being recorded. A number of these were made in the early morning
when smoke pollution is more prevalent and frequently the observations extended
for periods of not less than one hour. Eight complaints were received of nuisances
from the emission of smoke. As the result of inspections made three intimation
notices were served.
Inspection of Workshops, etc.
The routine inspection of factories, workshops and workplaces has been carried
out during the year. 545 factories were inspected, 550 workshops and 3,871
workplaces.
It is found that changes frequently occur in the occupation of workshops. To
obtain information of such changes and further details of industrial conditions in the
Borough a large number of visits and inspections were made in addition to the routine
inspections mentioned above. As the result of these visits 36 premises no longer used
for the purpose for which they had been registered were removed from the register of
workshops. In some cases, owing to the introduction of machinery, former"workshops"
had become "factories" and the necessary transfer to the factory register was effected.
Variations in the staff employed were also frequently reported. During the year 40
workshops were added to the register.