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INSPECTION OF SHOPS
1,761 visits were paid to shops and, apart from a number of minor
infringements, which were dealt with, the provisions of the Shops Act
have been well observed.
Only seventeen written notices were served during the year as,
generally speaking, the proprietors of shops remedied defects as the
result of informal notices.
The following work was carried out:—
Lighting provided 69
Ventilation provided 22
Staff room provided 6
Sanitary accommodation provided 5
Sanitary accommodation labelled 9
Number of shops cleansed 3
Rooms repaired 341
Rooms redecorated 335
LICENSING OF PET SHOPS
Licences for keeping shops for the sale of pet animals were granted
in respect of two premises, one for the sale of birds and the other for
birds and fresh water fish. Five existing licences were renewed and the
numbers of licensed pet shops at the end of the year were as follows:—
Dogs, cats, kittens, etc. 1
Tropical fish 2
Birds 1
Birds and fish 2
Birds and small mammals 1
All the premises were inspected by the sanitary inspectors and where
necessary by the veterinary inspector. Conditions were generally very
satisfactory. This would appear to be the general picture in the
country as a whole as it is understood that during the whole of 1953
there were only six prosecutions.
RODENT CONTROL
The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949 places a responsibility
upon the Council "to keep their district as far as practicable free from
rats and mice" and occupiers of premises are required to give notice in
writing when they have knowledge that rats or mice are present in substantial
numbers. For determining what constitutes a "substantial"
number regard must be had to the character of occupation, size of
premises and other relevant factors.
The underlying principle of modern methods of rodent control is to
kill off all the rats and mice within the infested area in as short a time as
possible. These methods consist of poisoning, gassing and trapping.
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