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52
Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919.
During the year 120 complaints were received 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 is caused by the blocking of rain water and other pipes by their nests.
The birds also pick out mortar from between the bricks and so tend to cause dampness to
penetrate through the walls.
Although 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, in practice the section is
of little value.
The prevalence of the birds is encouraged by the practice of feeding them adopted by
so many kind-hearted but misguided persons, and for the same reason the use of traps has
proved a failure, the birds, being so well fed, will not enter the traps to obtain the food which
is placed inside. In a number ot' cases the traps have either been removed or interfered with
by these misguided persons, who, doubtless owing to ignorance, object to the destruction of
these birds.
As poisoning might prove to be dangerous, the only available method would appear to
be shooting.
A.—A weekly collection is made in all parts of the Borough with the exception of
Wards 2 and 6, in which a collection is made twice weekly during the summer
months, and daity collections before 10 a.m. in prescribed main streets. Additional
collections are also given to flats, eating houses, etc.
The use of Pagefield trucks, first introduced in 1925, has very much facilitated this
work.
B.—The methods of refuse disposal are : —
(a) By combustion in the Destructor.
(b) Removal to the country by rail.
The following figures for the past year, kindly supplied by Mr. E. W. Swinstead,
m.i m. & cy.e., the Rorough Engineer, give some idea of the enormous amount of
refuse to be dealt with. For the purpose of comparison the figures for the previous
year are also given :—
Refuse Collection and Disposal.
1931.
1930.
Quantity of refuse collected
Quantity of refuse burnt at Destructor
Quantity put on rail
Quantity of clinker residual
Tons.
58086
36339
21832
12366
Tons.
59099
36118
22864
12911