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83
Sanitary Committee have instructed the City Engineer to submit a report in connection
with this matter. I made the following recommendation to the Sanitary
Committee on November 28th, which was attached —
" I am of opinion that it is desirable that the type of ashbin which is used in the City
" should be definitely stated, and I would suggest that the matter be referred to Mr. Engineer
" with a view to his deciding the size and material of a bin which would meet City require"
ments and at the same time prove acceptable in the work of refuse collection, since it is
" perfectly clear that if the provision of rat-proof bins of a satisfactory type were made an
" essential requirement some progress would be effected. At the present time your inspec"
tors obtain provision of these bins by the somewhat roundabout process of regarding an
" unsuitable bin as a potential nuisance."
It is my practice to record any matters of interest which Mr. Mayne discovers
in the matter of rat repression work and the following two items are of interest:—
1. There is a material known as vegetable ivory which is used for the manufacture
of buttons. This vegetable ivory is prepared from at least two nuts, namely,
the Dum nut of Northern Africa and the Corozo nut of Mexico. The appearance of
buttons made from these nuts is clearly distinctive. The former does not appear
to be quite so hard and does not take the polish of the Corozo, and manufacturers
of these buttons have noted that rats will gnaw and consume buttons made from
the Dum nut and not those made from the Corozo nut. The explanation given is
that the former buttons contain more fat, but it seems to me equally probable that
it is a physical reason. A material with the polished surface and the hard texture
of the Corozo nut may result in its being a material which the rat does not care to
tackle.
2. As I have previously reported, varnish is frequently used in the City for
rat catching purposes, and is found to be of increasing value.
Difficulties have arisen in the past owing to the fact that varnishes on the
market are not of equal "tackiness," in fact some varnishes are useless for the
purpose. Enquiries would appear to indicate that this varnish, which is prepared
from flax seeds, varies according to the country of origin of the seeds. It is stated
that seeds obtained from sub-Tropical or Tropical regions do not yield a product
equal in tackiness to that manufactured from seeds obtained from temperate or
colder places.
This information has not been confirmed and is submitted as an expression of
opinion which has been obtained by Mr. Mayne.
For the information of your Honourable Court a copy of the card used in
connection with rat repression work is reproduced herewith:—
Obverse.
Card No RATS AND MICE DESTRUCTION. No. in Register
Situation, Name, Descrip-
tion of Land or Premises, -
Ship.
Occupier ,Prevalence of Rats or Mice
Name & Address
of
Ower
Inspection or Action taken. By Materials used Expenses Charged up
Reverse.
Foodstuffs Stored (Animal & Human) General Observations
Other edible products
Defects in Building & Roof
or Paving
Defects in Sanitary Fittings
Defects in Drains
Presence of rats in vicinity
What attraction to rats
in vicinity
Portion of premises
most infested f
Means of rat ingress
to building
Date of report on
drainage to M.O.H.
Date drains certified
satisfactory by Dist. Inspector
Date notice served
Inspector.