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method of extermination, as a result of information contained in my Annual Report.
The Medical Officer of Health of that district has informed me that this departure
met with great success.
That the determined efforts of the Council to focus attention on the necessity
for extermination of rats and mice, and their insistence that measures to this end
should be promptly adopted, once again captured the interest of the public, cannot
be doubted. Though no serious cases of rat or mice infestation were reported during
the week, Mr. E. E. Willis, the inspector who is in charge of this branch of the Council's
activities, was able to offer valuable advice and assistance in the cases where information
was solicited or where special difficulty was being encountered. It may be
claimed, as a result of the activities of the Department and the concerted action
that was secured, that the steady improvement noted last year has been maintained."
PIGEONS, ETC.
Under section 121 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, the Council is
empowered to seize and destroy, sell, or otherwise dispose of, or cause to be seized,
etc., house doves or pigeons in excessive numbers, if they believe them to be without
an owner. Nine complaints (six relating to private dwellings and three to public
buildings) were made in 1938, as against ten in 1937. As in other years, as much
assistance as possible was given by the inspector in charge of this work to reduce
the nuisance.
During the year complaints were received of annoyance and nuisance from
fouling of the footway caused by flocks of starlings and sparrows which made use
of a number of large plane trees which are still in the forecourts of premises in one
of the principal thoroughfares in the Borough. The nuisance was considerably
minimised in some instances by drastic lopping and pruning of the trees. In
another case an attempt was made to get rid of the birds by systematic scaring but
this proved less effectual.
FOULING OF FOOTWAYS BY DOGS.
As a result of the carrying out of close and routine observations by the temporary
streets nuisance inspector, breach of the bye-law was detected in 40 cases, in 36 of
which, following prosecution, convictions were secured and penalties imposed.
In their efforts to deal with this most objectionable nuisance the Council received
great assistance from the police, 18 prosecutions undertaken being on the
reports of police officers.
The total number of prosecutions since the bye-law came into operation in 1928
is 282, the amount of fines imposed being £101 4s. Od.
NOISE.
During the year 30 complaints of noise were received, eleven relating to nuisance
at night (rowdy disturbances, door slamming, etc.), four to motor vehicles, four to
operation of machinery in industrial premises, three to roller skating on the public
way, three to itinerant newsvendors, two to dogs, two to milk delivery, and one to
street hawking.
Street Musicians and Singers.
On the 28th July, 1938, the Council made the following bye-law in pursuance
of section 38 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1938:—
"(1) No person shall sound or play upon any musical or noisy instrument
or sing in any street or public place within 100 yards of any dwelling-house,
office, or business or professional premises to the annoyance or disturbance of