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The Health of Barking
The steep rise in the months of November and December is most noticeable.
This rise is due to the substantial contribution to the total load of pollution made
by the domestic chimney. Compared with the summer months of July and August
the increase represented a rise of 83.5 per cent.
The experts tell us that in thirty years we shall be in the smokeless era, but
if I express my doubts (in the absence of legal control for the domestic user)
I must plead that as one of the domestic consumers of the 40 million tons of raw
coal burnt in the grates of our homes, the open fire is still very attractive in winter
time.
We must, however, continue to press for every scientific and mechanical
assistance to increase the efficiency in fuel burning so as to lessen the gloom, fog
and grime from which we at present suffer.
It is a sad reflection that in this period when there is a demand for cleaner this
and cleaner that public opinion is still not sufficiently vocal in its call for a cleaner
atmosphere.
RATS AND MICE DESTRUCTION ACT, 1919, AND INFESTATION
ORDER, 1943.
Rodent Control in Sewers.—The biannual treatment of sewers was carried out
during the months of May and November.

Test baiting of 70 manholes throughout the newer parts of the district took
place in April, and no evidence of infestation was found.

This work involved over 3,000 visits by the operative.
The charge made by the Corporation for this service to factories and commercial
premises is now at the rate of 4s. 3d. per man-hour.
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