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76
RAT REPRESSION.
Rat repression work in the City has been carried on since June, 1934, by a Sanitary
Inspector specially appointed for the purpose.
Complaints continue to be received from tenants of many City buildings, although it
is apparent from the inspections made that many more buildings are infested than are
indicated by the complaints received.
No legal responsibility rests-—under the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919—
upon the owner of occupied property, the necessity for action devolving upon the occupier.
Herein lies one of the greatest difficulties for dealing with the problem. Rat proofing is
and has been found to be one of the greatest factors for good in rat extermination. This
work in many cases calls for alterations and additions to the structure of a building, work
which cannot reasonably be asked of an occupier. It must be stated, however, that in many
instances the owners, on being approached, have shown themselves willing to help in every
way. Indeed, in a number of instances, it has been found that owners of properties have
accepted a moral responsibility to deal with rat extermination entirely in their properties.
Many of the empty properties in the City undoubtedly offer harbourage to rats, and
wherever it is considered likely that an empty building has some bearing on the source of
rat infestation in a certain area, the owner is communicated with and methods of disinfestation
advised. (Legal responsibility rests with the owner in the case of unoccupied property.)
It is not possible to give any indication of the total number of rats caught or killed in
the City during 1934.
Messrs. William Dalton & Sons, one of the firms principally engaged in this work in
the City of London, inform me that they were responsible for the destruction of 14,969 rats
during the year.
Many of the big catering firms in the City employ their own rat catchers and exterminators.
One of these firms has kept a record of their catch since August, 1934, and up to the
31st December, 1934, the total number caught was 1,964.
In those cases where infestation is found to be severe, the employment of a rat catcher
is recommended. In many instances requests are made to my Department for the recommendation
of a rat catcher. In nine instances of such a recommendation being made,
a total of 472 rats was caught.
It must be said that rat infestation in the City of London is of a severe nature. It is
apparent that no action is taken in many cases until the rats have obtained a firm hold on
a building. It does not appear generally to be known that my Department is willing and
anxious to offer advice to, and co-operate with, any firm whose premises are infested, no
matter in what degree. It is often found that persons are spending considerable sums of
money in tackling their problem in the wrong way. The value of rat proofing is certainly
not appreciated to its full extent. It is not realised that tenants themselves are largely
to blame for their occupancies becoming infested, owing to their carelessness with waste food,
water supply, and accumulations of refuse, which provide the rat with its essential requirements.
These are the first details which should receive attention in attacking the problem.
The dilapidated dustbin and its contents are a great attraction to the rat. Trapping,
poisoning, even rat catching, is largely a waste of time, effort and money, if these other
matters are left unattended.
Again, the lack of co-operation between tenants considerably lessens the success which
would attend any united effort. Since it has been the task of my Department to concentrate
upon this problem in the City of London, it has become increasingly evident that the action
and methods taken against this pest have not resulted in a success proportionate to the great
amount of money spent.
It will be readily appreciated that a problem which has beset the City of London generally
for a great many years cannot be completely solved in a short space of time. It is felt,
however, that more co-operation between tenants, these exercising a more definite and
logical means of exterminating the pest, with the advice and assistance which can be offered
by my Department, would greatly reduce the infestation at present existing.