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16
Factories Act, 1937.
Visits paid to factories totalled 81 and in addition to verbal intimations
regarding small defects, 14 written notices were served and complied with.
Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919, and Infestation Order S.R.O.,
1943.
Complaints were received from various parts of the district and investigated.
When considered necessary, the drains of premises were tested with smoke and
any defects found made good.
The foul water sewers were treated on two occasions during June /July and
December/January, 1947, pre-bait and poisoned bait being laid in the manholes
and side entrances. It is estimated that 1,820 rats were killed in consequence
of these treatments.
In September, a special scheme for the systematic inspection of all premises
in the district in connection with rodent infestation was commenced, the Ministry
of Food making a grant towards the cost.
Additional staff were engaged and trained and the following gives the result
of the scheme up to the end of the year :—
Premises surveyed 5,042
Premises reported infested with rats 484
Premises treated for rats 434
Premises where rat poison bait was taken 347
Premises re-treated 342
Premises requiring treatment 50
Estimated number of rats poisoned 3,398
Number of bodies found 78
Number of rats trapped, etc 240
Premises treated for mice 116
The scheme was continued during 1947.
The estimated number of rats killed up to the commencement of the special
scheme was 916. The estimated total number of rats killed during the year
was 6,374.
I desire to express thanks to the Chairman and Members of the Public
Health Committee for their ready consideration and support and to the Staff
for their painstaking work during a very busy year.
I am, Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
R. T. PEARCE,
Chief Sanitary Inspectorf