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83
In October, 1920, two temporary inspectors in addition to Mr. Mayne were
appointed to carry out work in connection with rat repression. These inspectors,
in addition to investigating complaints, proceeded to make house to house enquiry
throughout the City and summaries of the main details of the work performed by
them have been submitted in monthly reports. By means of this systematic
survey a considerable amount of accurate knowledge of local circumstances has
been gained. One of these inspectors resigned in April, 1921, and the vacancy
has not been filled, but the Court of Common Council sanctioned the employment
of the remaining two officers until June, 1922. This decision was passed on a report
dated May 24th, 1921.
Other minor reports have been submitted at different times, but those referred
to are the most important.
The chief conclusions arrived at are as follows:—
(1) Rat infestation if uncontrolled will depend upon the amount of food
which is available. Rats increase to the limits of the means of
subsistence. Available food is therefore an important factor in the
work of rat repression.
(2) The increase to this maximum can also be to some extent prevented by(a)
Rendering premises rat proof and thereby preventing casual
infestation. Such means include satisfactory drainage and
construction of drains and adequately guarded openings of
basements and even of doors. Also by effecting internal improvements
in premises with the object of doing away with
conditions which provide the rat with shelter and suitable
nesting places.
(b) Efforts to catch or kill rats which have infested premises by
means of traps, poisons, varnish, by rat catchers, or by the use
of suitable animals.
(3) In view of the fact that black rats are increasing in the City and that
this particular species is capable of climbing, preventive measures
against ingress are not to be limited to the ground floor but to extend
to the highest floor of a building. These rats will enter buildings
by travelling along even telephone cables.
If the above requirements are diligently pursued rats can be reduced in numbers,
but the experience of Copenhagen tends to show that even if, with such measures,
there is combined rewards for rats killed, which apparently would encourage a large
number of persons to be rat catchers, the reduction can only reach a certain limit,
and that if at any time these energies are relaxed for any reason, the prolificacy of
the rat is so great that the previous maximum dependent upon the means of
subsistence will again rapidly be reached.
This fact whilst not furnishing a reason against energetic action certainly
suggests that present methods cannot be regarded as final or even as adequate.
It is, however, difficult to suggest alternatives in present knowledge which fact
emphasises the necessity for research work by competent persons.
The complete control of refuse food would undoubtedly result in material
improvement, and in this connection, I venture to suggest that the collection of
refuse in the City, if it could be carried out immediately after the work is completed
in the evening, would remove much food which at the present time is left available
all night for rat consumption. The majority of the receptacles provided to
hold refuse are of metal with metal lids. When purchased they meet
requirements. It does not, however, take long for these receptacles to
become mis-shapen and the lids ill-fitting, in fact the lids are frequently
lost. I am not sure, however, whether arrangements for evening collection is a
practical suggestion for fairly obvious reasons, such as those relating to the
locking up of buildings after the staff have left.
It will be noted that the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is the supervising
body under the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919, and in this connection
I desire to mention that the problem of rat repression in a built-on area like
that of the City is totally different from the problem in an agricultural district.
The work is closely associated with that of nuisance control and for this the first
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