View report page

20
(iii) Suitable poison baits were on sale in the Public Health Department
(iv) Where desired, occupiers of rat-infested premises were placed in
communication with reliable firms of rat catchers
(v) Communications were sent to chemists and hardware dealers asking
them to stock and display suitable poisons and traps before and
during Eat Week
(vi) Eat repression posters were exhibited on the Council's buildings and
advertisement boards
(vii) Baits in all the Council's sewers were increased in Rat Week, 3,000
baits were laid In this connection the Borough Engineer and
Surveyor writes: —
"Following the success found with 'Ratin' and 'Ratinin' the
"same procedure was adopted in November last as in the former
"year Baits of 'Ratin' were laid for three months commencing in
"November last, and this month (February) 'Ratinin' was used,
" which completes the course"
Supervision of Drainage Work
The attention of the Council was directed to the arrangement which had
operated in the Borough for a number of years by which all drainage work had
been carried out under the supervision of the Borough Engineer and Surveyor and
his staff, thus differing from the practice almost invariably prevailing in other
metropolitan areas where such work is supervised by the Sanitary Inspectors
under the direction of the Medical Officer of Health, all qualified Sanitary
Inspectors being specially trained for this technical work The Public Health
Committee expressed the opinion that it would be an advantage if the practice in
Holborn was brought into conformity with that usual in London, and the Council
decided that as from the 1st August, 1934, the supervision of work connected with
the construction and/or repair of drains should be transferred from the department
of the Borough Engineer and Surveyor to the Public Health Department
From the time of transfer until the end of the year fifty-five applications for
the Council's approval to proposed work were received In some instances it was
not possible to approve the plans until amendments had been made to bring them
into conformity with the London County Council drainage by-laws and the
Regulations of this Council relative to such work At the end of the year all
applications had received approval with the exception of three which were
approved during the first few days of 1935
Smoke Abatement
The smoke shafts in the Borough were kept under frequent inspection, 156
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 Sixteen complaints were received of
nuisances from the emission of smoke As the result of inspections made, six
intimation notices and one statutory notice were served,