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In a few cases difficulty has been experienced and during the year
it became necessary to serve a Notice under The Prevention of
Damage by Pests Act, 1949, to rat proof a chicken run. Very few
of these notices are served as in most cases it is possible due to the
co-operation of owners to carry out the necessary works.
During the year a single sewer treatment was carried out in
June. 1954. being the annual 10% Test of Sewer Manholes followed
by the treatment based on the results. 168 Manholes were baited
with damp sausage rusk and on an inspection made two days later
in 19 cases the bait was completely taken and in one case partially
taken. In the treatment which followed this test 49 manholes were
pre-baited consisting of those in which the bait was partially or
completely taken and those in the immediate vicinity. In 23 of these
manholes was the pre-bait taken and on those being poison baited
there were 22 "takes." There were no complete takes of poison.
The sewers in the district are not heavily infested but the amount
of infestation seems to remain constant from year to year.
Insect Control
The number of complaints that are being received regarding
infestations by various types of insects, not necessarily fleas and
bugs, is increasing. In these cases assistance and advice are given
and where necessary insecticides are supplied free of charge.
The number of verminous premises which have been treated
during the year is extremely low, and the existence of fleas and bugs
in houses in this area is now rare.
FOOD AND DRUGS
In June of the year the Council became the Food and Drugs
Authority and as may be seen from the tables 52 samples were
taken and forwarded to the Public Analyst and a further 28 were
examined in the Public Health Department. Of these samples 6
examined by the Public Analyst were found to be adulterated and
one of those examined by the Public Health Department.
The six samples examined by the Public Analyst which were
found to be unsatisfactory were:—
Cheese and Macaroni
Orange Juice
Vinegar
Ham Cheese Spread
Whisky
Hot Milk.
Cheese and Macaroni
This unsatisfactory sample was described as "Cheese and
Macaroni" and was found to consist of two portions—one of
macaroni and the other of cheese powder. The portion of macaroni
was five times greater by weight than that of cheese powder. This
was a contravention of the Labelling of Food Order which requires
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