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suspected of spreading, e.g. poliomyelitis can be reduced to a
minimum.
During the year representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Pood, acting on behalf of a local dairy
farmer, sought unsuccessfully to persuade the Council to modify
their control over the keeping of animals. The effect of the
modifications would have been seriously to weaken the effectiveness
of the 3yelaws. The farm in question, at one time completely
separated from any built-up area, is now, as a result
of the growth of the district, on the very fringe of a heavily
populated area. This kind of thing is happening on the outskirts
of urban areas all over the country and a certain degree
of sympathy can be felt for farmers who find themselves engulfed
by the Urban sprawl. To keep the picture in perspective however
it should be remembered that the appearance of thousands of new
customers on a dairy farmer's doorstep is not necessarily without
its advantages to him. Providing he, and his official
mentors, appreciate that the possible dangers to public health
from keeping animals in a built up urban area are greater than
at an isolated rural farm, and the standard of hygiene is adapted
accordingly, I see no reason why farming and populace should
not exist happily side by side.
Rodent Control.
Treatment at dwelling houses is carried out free, but a
charge based on the cost of labour and materials is made for
treatment at business and industrial premises. All complaints
are investigated by the Public Health Inspectors before treatment
is carried out in order to find out whether the infestation
is the result of defective drains, accumulations of refuse, improper
keeping of animals etc. Ditches, undeveloped sites,
rubbish dumps and other places where infestation is likely to
occur, are subject to regular routine inspection and treated
when necessary.
An increase of nearly 40% in the number of complaints
received as compared with last year is a trend which will have
to be watched closely. The explanation might arise from the
fact that the post of rodent operative fell vacant twice during
the year and on neither occasion was it possible to obtain anyone
with previous experience in the work to fill the vacancy.
Training is given, of course, but until full efficiency is
reached, second complaints may be received about infestations
which have not been completely eradicated.
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