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RATS AND MICE (DESTRUCTION) ACT, 1919.
INFESTATION ORDER, 1943.
The work of destruction of rats and mice in the
Borough was taken over from the Middlesex County
Council in February, 1944.
In March, the three Sanitary Inspectors were
appointed Authorised Officers under Sec. 5 of the
Rats & Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919 and became
responsible for the work.
For a short time the actual work of baiting,
poisoning, trapping, etc. was carried out by Mr. Bates,
the Council's Disinfector. In due course, however, the
amount of work involved in carrying out the provisions
of the Act, made it necessary for the Council to
appoint a Rodent Operator. Mr. W. Dowsett was
appointed Rodent Operator in May 1944 and under the
supervision of the Sanitary Inspectors he carries out
the whole of the work of rats and mice destruction.
The Act of 1919 and the Infestation Order, 1943
places the responsibility on the occupiers for
ridding the premises of rats and mice, and in this
connection it was decided by the Council in July to
charge occupiers of residential premises a nominal
charge of 2/6 per treatment for the services of the
Council's Operator, and to charge the occupiers of
business premises on a basis of time and material for
his services.
The total number of premises at which treatment
was carried out from 22nd February to 31st December,
1944 was 309.
The methods adopted for disinfestation consisted
almost entirely of poisoning, trapping being resorted
to in very few instances.
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