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12
Rat Repression.
The number of complaints received during the year, viz., 54, was lower by
6 than the 1927 figure. The investigation of these complaints necessitated the
inspection of 54 premises, 24 of which were used for business purposes (5 of
these for the preparation or storage of food), the remaining 30 being private or
tenement houses. In 5 of the cases investigated the infestation was directly
attributable to defects in the drainage system and disappeared immediately these
were remedied. In every instance all advice and assistance was given to the
owner or occupier by Inspector Draper, who continued to act as Rat Officer, and
to obtain excellent results from the methods advocated.
A Rat Week was held during the year from the 5th to the 10th November,
1928, and attracted a considerable amount of attention to the subject. Great
assistance was obtained from the Borough Engineer and his staff, and also from
a number of large firms in the borough. The result, it is safe to state, was a
considerable reduction in the rat population of the sewers and other places affected
by these vermin.
Fouling of Footways by Dogs.
About the middle of the year a bye-law dealing with the matter of the fouling
of footways by dogs came into operation, and leaflets in the following form were
widely distributed and exposed on lamp-posts and elsewhere :—
BOROUGH OF St. MARYLEBONE.
FOULING OF FOOTWAYS BY DOGS.
Attention is drawn to the provisions of the following Byelaw
recently made by the St. Marylebone Borough Council,
under which it is now a statutory offence punishable by a penalty
not exceeding FORTY SHILLINGS for any person being in
charge of a dog, to allow Or permit such dog to foul any public
footway in the Borough, contrary to the terms of such Bye-law.
The Council will be glad to receive the co-operation of
residents in securing the enforcement of this Bye-law.
Bye-Law.
No person being in charge of a dog in any street
or public place and having the dog on a lead shall allow
or permit such dog to deposit excrement upon the public
footway.
Any person offending against this Bye-law shall be
liable to a penalty not exceeding forty shillings.
By Order,
CHARLES PORTER,
Medical Officer of Health.
Town Hall,
St. Marylebone,
June, 1928.
In enforcing the provisions of the bye-law great assistance was obtained from
the police. There was one prosecution during the year on a report from a police
constable, the defendant being fined 10/- and costs amounting to 10/6.