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the remaining 40% of the cost. In order to expedite rodent
control work the number of Rodent Control Assistants was
increased from two to four and all of these assistants have
received training at the infestation branch of the Ministry of
Food. The methods of control advocated by the Ministry of
Food are carried out in the Borough.
In the report for 1945 reference was made to the treatment
carried out in the sewers and during 1946 the first maintenance
treatment was carried out by the Borough Engineer's Department,
the number of sewer manholes baited being 369, the number in
which takes were recorded being 72, that is approximately 19.5%
of the manholes baited. The second maintenance treatment which
should have commenced early in 1947 had to be postponed owing
to severe weather conditions (but this has since been carried out,
the percentage of manholes found to be infested being approximately
20% of those baited. These maintenance treatments of
the sewers were carried out in accordance with Ministry of Food
Circular N.S. No. 11. The total estimate of rats killed in the
Borough during the year was 5,314 (excluding sewers). But the
organisation aims at much more than is reflected by any such
figure—total elimination of the rodent population and rat proofing
to prevent any re-infestation.
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