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14
Smoke Nuisances.
During the year 1936, 162 observations were made and 10 complaints were
received and dealt with. In each case the attention of the offender was drawn to
the matter.
As a result of frequent observations and co-operation with the owners of the
property, the trouble arising from fumes from furnaces burning oil-fuel has been
almost entirely eliminated, and there was no complaint of nuisance from this
source.
Rat Repression.
Though activity in this connection continues unabated, the number of complaints
received varies little year by year. In 1931 it reached 74, in 1932, 52,
in 1933, 49, in 1934, 44, in 1935, 45, and in 1936, 42. The investigation of these
complaints necessitated the inspection of 45 premises, 9 of which were found to
be rat infested. Included in this latter number were 6 business premises (3 of
these for the preparation or storage of food), the remaining 3 being 2 private or
tenement houses and 1 vacant site. In 2 of the cases investigated the infestation
was directly attributable to defects in the drainage system, and the nuisance
disappeared when repair or reconstruction was carried out. In every instance all
advice and assistance was given to the owner or occupier by Inspector Willis, who
acted as Rat Officer, and secured excellent results from the methods advocated.
The following report, submitted to the Public Health Committee on the 1936
National Rat Week, contains a certain amount of information that may be found
interesting:
"For the past 18 years a "Rat week" has been held annually in the Borough,
at the suggestion of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, during the early
part of November, with the object of focussing public attention on the need for
concerted action in order to secure the destruction of rats and mice.
National Rat Week in 1936 was held from November 2nd to 7th, and, as on
previous occasions, the Council, as the local authority responsible for the execution
and enforcement of the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919, sought, with
marked success, the co-operation of neighbouring authorities and of owners and
occupiers of property within the Borough in an endeavour to direct special attention
to the problem during that week.
In other years I have reported in detail to the Committee—and through the
Committee to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries—on the steps taken by
the Department in this connection, and as experience has shown action on lines
such as those described to be the most suitable in an area such as ours, it was
taken again this year. I propose, therefore, on this occasion to refer only to
one or two points that call for special mention.
Publicity.—The Press has always given prominence to National Rat Week,
and this year proved no exception in this respect. Daily, weekly and local papers
all devoted space to articles—sometimes illustrated, sometimes poetic—on the rat.
A poster of striking design was exhibited .throughout the Borough, and copies of
the latest booklet on "Rats and How to Exterminate Them" (issued by the
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries) were distributed to ratepayers likely to
be concerned.
Baits and Traps.— Prolonged experiments with traps of the break-back type
having shown these to be the most satisfactory, it has been decided to use them
in greater numbers in the sewers and to reduce considerably the amounts previously
expended on baits of various kinds. The results obtained, being obvious, have
created greater enthusiasm amongst the men engaged in the work, and the
superiority of the trap over the poison bait has been demonstrated in other
ways. In addition, it conceivably provides a more humane method of destruction.