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54
A local authority must secure that its district is kept free from rats and mice, and to do
this such inspections as may be necessary must be carried out.
The local authority must enforce the duties of owners and occupiers.
Occupiers must inform the local authority when their premises are infested with rats or
mice.
The local authority may serve a notice on the owner and/or occupier requiring him to
take steps to destroy rats and mice, and in the notice may specify the form of treatment and
such structural repairs as may be necessary. There is a right of appeal to a Court of Summary
Jurisdiction.
If a person on whom a notice has been served fails to take the appropriate steps, the
local authority may take such steps themselves and recover the cost thereof.
Where groups of houses are concerned, the local authority, after appropriate notice,
may carry out the necessary work and recover the costs from the several owners.
The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries will pay half of the costs so far as
not recovered.
I am of the opinion that an attempt should be made to carry out the provisions of the
Act in its initial stages with the staff at present employed by the Council.