View report page

19
5 complaints were received, as follows:—
General 4
Home Office 1
5
Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919.
517 complaints were received and 696 inspections carried out.
27 notices were served and 29 defective drains repaired.
These figures do not include work done by the Inspectors engaged under the
Factories Act, 1937.
Infestation Order. 1943.
Work under the Infestation Order is carried out under the authority of Infestation
Control, Ministry of Food. In accordance with the directive received from the
Ministry of Food a comprehensive rat disinfestation scheme for the Borough as a
whole was prepared. The scheme provided for sewer maintenance treatment and the
treatment of premises by the Block control method. The following staff were
recommended by the Public Health Committee and approved by the Minister of
Food, but the establishment was not implemented until the following year.
1 Rodent Officer—to supervise the work under the direction of the Senior
Sanitary Inspector.
4 Rodent Investigators—to be engaged in visiting premises for the ascertainment
of any infestation and in the case of factories or premises
other than private dwellings, to arrange for the signing
of agreements, payment for baiting, arrangement of
baiting points, etc.
10 Rodent Operators—to be increased from 6 previously employed.
Disinfestation of Sewers.

The minimum number of rats destroyed, on a calculation based on the amount
of poison taken, is 11,265. The sewers were found to have a very high percentage
of infestation. In 65 per cent. of the manholes the posion was taken completely,
in 30 per cent. of the manholes the poison was partially taken and in only 5 per cent,
was there "no take" recorded.
Surface baiting.—Three Rodent Operators were employed during the year, and
in October three additional Operators were taken on the temporary staff,