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78
RAT REPRESSION.
Rat repression work in the City has been carried on during 1932 by the Sanitary Inspectors.
In the interests of economy the position of City Rat Officer, rendered vacant by the death
of Mr. J. W. Mayne, in 1931, has not yet been filled, and it has consequently not been possible
to devote as much attention to rat problems as one might wish.
Rat infestation of premises, when brought to my notice, has, of course, been dealt with
without delay, and no urgent problems have been neglected. I think that one of the reasons
for the large number of complaints that we continue to receive is the many empty premises
in the City, some of which undoubtedly afford nesting and breeding places from which
the rats forage at night for food.
The tables set out on page 79 indicate the number of investigations made, and the
details of the work carried out under the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919. From this
summary, it will be seen that 86 buildings, occupied by 124 firms, were inspected, and that
110 of these occupancies were found to be rat-infested. One or other of the rat-catchers
working in the City was engaged by eight firms. Poisons were laid down in 53 cases, varnish
traps were used in 29 cases, break-backs, wire, and other traps in 118 cases. Eight firms
kept cats or dogs on the premises. In all, 86 complaints or applications for advice have
been received. Rat-proofing was put into operation in 159 instances. This is the most
important means of dealing with the rat problem in an area such as the City. When this
is carried out in combination with elimination of hiding places, invariably marked improvement
is experienced. It is not, however, possible, even with the most expensive or efficient
methods of proofing, to exclude rodents from the buildings, ingress to which they obtain
as opportunity occurs through open doors and windows.
One of the difficulties experienced in connection with rat-proofing which so often involves
structural alterations, is the fact that the duty of disinfesting premises devolves upon the
occupiers, who are often loath to spend the necessary money. The owner might reasonably
be expected to deal with the structure in the matter, but is not legally responsible.
It is not possible to report even approximately the total number of rats killed. Messrs.
William Dalton & Sons, one of the firms principally engaged in this work in the City, inform
me that they killed 16,586 rats in the City during 1932.
The substitution of old buildings by modern structures, and the constant attention to
drainage and sewage work, have probably resulted in a decrease in the rat population.
So far as palliative measures are concerned, we have continued to obtain very satisfactory
results from the Varnish Trap.

One cwt. of poison was used in the sewers during the year, and subsequently 105 dead
rats were found. A larger number of dead rats were doubtless carried away by the flow
of water.
The number of drainage reconstructions carried out under the supervision of inspectors
of this Department is set out on page 79.