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52
Dramage Register.—The following is an analysis of the Drainage Register during
1930:—
Plans deposited—Old Buildings under Notice 126
„ „ Old Buildings, Voluntary 201
„ „ New Buildings and Additions 60
387
Applications without Plans 256
Total number of Applications and Plans 643
National Rat Week.
Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919.
A circular was issued to all Local Authorities by the Minister of Agriculture and
Fisheries, suggesting that during the week commencing 3rd November special efforts should
be made to secure concerted action with a view to the destruction of rats and mice.
The matter was considered by the Public Health Committee and the following procedure
adopted:—
A circular was forwarded to the occupiers of premises particularly likely to be infested
owing to the nature of the business carried on therein—such as railway sheds and
sidings, goods yards, wharves, slaughter-houses, corn chandlers, etc.
Attention was also called to the necessity of abolishing refuse and rubbish heaps which
might serve as breeding grounds.
Chemists and hardware dealers in the Borough were asked to stock, exhibit or advertise
suitable raticides, traps, etc., during the week in question. With the co-operation
of the Borough Engineer a quantity of bait was also laid in the Council's sewers.
A communication was subsequently received from the Minister of Agriculture expressing
appreciation of the action taken by the Borough Council.
In addition to the above-mentioned special procedure 102 complaints were received
during the year with reference to nuisances caused by premises being infested by rats. Steps
were taken by the service of notices on owners or occupiers, by the testing of drains, and other
necessary measures in order to abate the nuisance.
Nuisance Caused by Pigeons.
During the year complaints were received on several occasions regarding a nuisance
arising from the presence of large numbers of these birds.
In addition to the fouling of gutters, window ledges, areas, etc., by accumulation of
excreta, nuisance may also be caused by the blocking of pipes by their nests, and by the birds
picking out mortar between the bricks and so tending to cause dampness within the houses.
Section 52 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1927, authorises local
authorities in London to seize, destroy, sell, or otherwise dispose of pigeons in excess of such
numbers as the local authority consider reasonable.
Arrangements were made for the capture and humane destruction of a number of these
birds, but the work is difficult to carry out in densely populated areas, and the prevalence of
the birds is unfortunately encouraged by the practice of feeding them, which is adopted by
many kind-hearted, but misguided persons.