View report page

No. 56, Edward Road was reconditioned and sold by the owner
to the present occupier.
Rodent Control
Three hundred and nine complaints of rat and mice infestations
were received (215 in 1949). All were dealt with by the Rodent
Operative. 517 dead rats and 71 dead mice were picked up after
poisoning and trapping.
Infestation of rats and mice at dwelling houses is dealt with
free of charge. Owners or occupiers of business premises are charged
with the cost of the work.
The arrangement made with the Barnet Urban District Council
for one rodent operative to serve the two districts, was terminated,
and a separate operative has since been appointed for each district.
The annual test of 10 per cent of the sewer manholes to ascertain
the extent of rat infestation of the sewers was again undertaken
in accordance with the requirements of the Rodent Control branch
of the Ministry of Agriculture. Test baits of bread mash were laid
in 167 manholes, and when inspected two days later there were
26 manholes where the bait had completely disappeared, and in 7
manholes part only of the bait had been consumed.
A treatment of the sewers with bread mash and arsenious oxide
was then undertaken with the result that there were 25 manholes
where the poison baits had been completely or partly taken.
These results indicated that rat infestation of the sewers had
increased since the last treatment in 1949.
Six months later a further treatment was carried out, 47 manholes
being pre-baited with sausage rusk. Of this number there were 15
manholes where the bait was either completely or partly taken.
Poison baits of sausage rusk and zinc phosphide were then laid in
these manholes, and when inspected later it was found that there
were no complete "takes," but in 13 manholes some portion of the
poison bait had been consumed.
Full particulars of these operations were supplied to the Infestation
Division of the Ministry of Agriculture.
National Assistance Act, 1948, Section 50, Burial or Cremation
of the Dead
One funeral of a destitute person was arranged under this Act
at a cost of £8 12s. 6d. The order for the funeral was given to
Messrs. E. Treeves Ltd., of Willesden, the interment being at the
Great Northern London Cemetery. As there was an insurance policy
for the sum of £10, the full cost of the funeral was recovered by the
Treasurer from the insurance company.
11