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1946, the Council decided to provide a free service to householders
in respect of private dwellinghouses. This free service has proved
to be more efficient in operation than the previous scheme
whereby householders were required to pay for the service performed
in the eradication of rats and mice. The methods of
control advocated by the Ministry of Food are carried out in the
Borough.
During the year under review, the Council continued to operate
the Act in accordance with Ministry of Food Circular N.S. 12,
whereby the Council received !by way of financial assistance 60%
of the cost of treating private houses. Four Rodent Control
Assistants have been employed on this work during the major
part of the year; all of these Assistants were trained at the
infestation branch of the Ministry of Food.
Rodent Control has been passed from the Ministry of Food
to the Ministry of Agriculture and Circular N.S. 12 is no longer
in operation. Under Local Authority Circular N.S. 19, Local
Authorities have become eligible for a consolidated grant of 50%
of the approved net expenditure under certain conditions laid down
by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and the Council have
intimated to the Ministry their desire to avail themselves of the
opportunity of receiving this new form of grant.
Two maintenance treatments of sewer manholes were carried
out by the Borough Engineer and Surveyor's Department during
the year, in accordance with Ministry of Food Circular N.S. 11.
The total estimate of rats killed in the Borough during the
year was 5,346 (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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