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77
RAT REPRESSION.
Rat repression work in the City has been carried on during 1933 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. An additional
Sanitary Inspector has, however, at the time of writing this Report, been appointed, who
will commence his duties on the 1st June, 1934.
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 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. A special communication was sent to all licencees,
restauranteurs, grocers, butchers, etc., etc.
The tables set out on page 78 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 105 buildings, occupied by 117 firms, were inspected,
and that 108 of these occupancies were found to be rat-infested. One or other of the ratcatchers
working in the City was engaged by eleven firms. Poisons were laid down in 46
cases, varnish traps were used in 35 cases, break-backs, wire and other traps in 96 cases.
Ten firms kept cats or dogs on the premises. In all, 105 complaints or applications for
advice have been received. Rat-proofing was put into operation in 242 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 disinfecting 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 14,563 rats in the City during 1933.
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.
The following figures have been supplied to me by the City Engineer:—
Sections of brick sewers constructed for the purpose of linking-up 4
Brick sewers reconstructed 2
Disused sewers filled in and abolished 4
Brick sewers reinverted, pointed and repaired 15
Pipe sewers constructed, reconstructed and repaired 4
Miscellaneous repairs to sewers, drains, etc. 44
House drains constructed in connection with new buildings 12
Drains of existing buildings reconstructed 17
House drains partially reconstructed in connection with the part reconstruction
and reinverting of certain sewers 23
Gully drains partially reconstructed in connection with the part reconstruction
and reinverting of certain sewers 9
New gullies and drains constructed 3
Gullies reconstructed 14
Gully drains reconstructed 26
Gully and house drains repaired 98
Disused gully and house drains bricked off 105
Number of rats destroyed by sewermen during year 797
Eighty-five lbs. of poison was used in the sewers during the year, and subsequently
157 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 78.
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