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page 12
Hat Extermination
Early in 1943 the Council put into operation a scheme
of the Minister of Food under the Hats and Mice Destruction Act
& Infestation Order 1943; appointed a Rat Officer who was
eventually trained through the medium of the Ministry of Food,
and two Ratcatchers.
Much of the work undertaken was of an experimental nature
but some excellent results were obtained. The sewers vested
in the Council were treated by the new pre — baiting method and
an estimated kill of more than 7,000 rats resulted in one big
drive.
Business firms in the Borough were advised that the
Council could assist in ridding their premises of rats; the
response was satisfactory and the work is proceeding.
Housing
Work under the Housing Act 1936 has been at a standstill
owing to the War, but as a matter of interest it should be
noted that during 1943 the Council submitted to the appropriate
authorities, a Post-War Development Plan followed shortly after
by a First-Year Building Programme.
Mortuary
The number of post-mortems carried out at the Camley
Street mortuary during the past five years are shown below:-
1939 - 215
1940 - 1009
1941 - 793
1942 - 712
1943 - 864