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49
The Council appointed their Senior Sanitary Inspector as the
Officer to enforce the provisions of this Act.
Many of the enquiries are made by the Sanitary Inspectors,
to whom all credit should be given for the enthusiastic way in
which they have taken up the work.
A great weakness of the Act as applied to Urban Districts is
the fact that occupiers and not owners are made responsible for
ridding their premises of rats. When this involves structural
improvements to render premises rat-proof, it is neither equitable
nor in accordance with the general principles of the public health
laws to make such requirements of the tenant occupier.
It should be at the option of Local Authorities to deal with
owners or occupiers as occasion arises.
In the majority of cases investigated the origin is eventually
found to be defective drains.
Suitable raticides are obtainable free from the Public Health
Department, and by giving assistance and advice as a general
principle much better work is done than would be possible by
taking action for the recovery of penalties, and much valuable
information is obtained which would otherwise be withheld.
A virus has been tried with some success, but Red Squills
Biscuits, and in suitable cases Barium Carbonate Biscuits, appear
to be more satisfactory.
It is impossible to estimate the number of rats destroyed.
Previous to Rat Week, as suggested by the Ministry of
Agriculture, the provisions of the Act were advertised by posters
by which the public were also informed of the free distribution of
raticides.
Number of premises inspected 114
Drains found defective 28
Premises where poisons distributed 84
Premises freed from rats 67
POLICE COURT PROCEEDINGS
Abatement of nuisances 10
Result—All withdrawn on abatement
of nuisance.
Unsound food deposited for sale 1
Result—Fined £10.