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17
RODENT CONTROL
Coinciding with the end of the year was the termination of a
three-year period of sewer treatment during which time the sewers
had been treated quarterly, in collaboration with the Ministry of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The quarterly treatment had been
advocated locally and from the results so far obtained, it seemed that
the treatment had been most successful. More than a half of the
1,018 manholes on the sewerage system have given "No takes"
and at the time of the last treatment, only in three cases was the
poison bait completely taken.
Ten per cent, zinc phosphide poison bait has been used and was
checked some 48 hours afterwards. This method has reduced to a
minimum the cost of sewer treatment.
A very vigorous policy has been maintained in connection with
the location of defective drainage, in order to ensure satisfactory
repair. Dealing with the drains and sewers simultaneously has no
doubt been responsible for the reduction by 14 per cent, in the
number of complaints received in the Department.
VENTILATION OF SEWERS
To assist the ventilation of the sewerage system, the caps have
been removed from the rodding eyes of the interceptors of the
drainage of certain premises under the control of the Local Authority
and in order to prevent rats gaining access to the drainage systems
from the sewers, wire mesh was substituted for the removed caps.
It is understood that there has been an improvement in the
ventilation of the sewers as a result of this action, but it is too early
to come to a conclusion as to whether the procedure already adopted
in respect of certain Local Authorities' premises could be advocated
as a general principle. In any case, the caps should not be removed
from any drainage system until the Local Authority is satisfied that
the drains are in a satisfactory condition and would not provide
egress for rats which would eventually infest the premises.
HOUSING REPAIRS & RENTS ACT, 1954
191 certificates of disrepair and 40 revocation certificates were
issued during the year under the above Act.
RAG FLOCK & OTHER FILLING MATERIALS ACT, 1951
During the year three samples were taken and submitted to the
prescribed Analyst Mr. G. Ginger, F.C.S., Chiltern Research
Laboratories, Ltd., Marlow. All these samples complied with the
requirements of the Regulations.
Nine premises are registered for the use of filling materials, and
one licensed for manufacture or storage of Rag Flock.