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12
RATS AND MICE (DESTRUCTION) ACT, 1919.
The M.C.C.'s powers and duties under the above Act were delegated
to the Wood Green Borough Council with effect from the 1st
April, 1944. Pending the formal delegation, the Council agreed
to act on behalf of the County Council as the statutory local authority
as from the 1st February, 1944.
Each of the three Sanitary Inspectors was appointed to
administer the Act in his area, and Mr. J. Harris was appointed as
Rodent Operative for the District.
220 Premises have been inspected, and it was found necessary
to carry out treatment in 154 of these.
1,836 visits were made.
LONDON SEWER RAT CAMPAIGN.
As part of the campaign against rats and mice organised by
the Infestation Branch of the Ministry of Food, a concerted attack
was made by the 44 local authorities concerned on the rats in the
area covered by the London County Council's main drainage
system.
The campaign was carried out in three stages. The first stage
included the identification of all soil sewer manholes and side inlets,
lifting and greasing the covers and clearing the benohings.
The second and third stages were the pre-baiting and poison
treatment periods.
The Public Health Department and the Borough Engineer's
Department co-operated in the carrying through of the campaign in
Wood Green.
Four squads of men were employed, each consisting of two men
supplied by the Borough Engineer and one by Civil Defence.
The preliminary stage was completed by the 11th December,
1943, and on the 13th December the first baiting treatment was
commenced.