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49
RATS AND MICE DESTRUCTION ACT, 1919.
The following is a statistical summary relating to the work carried out by the
Rat Officer with a view to giving effect to the provisions of the above-mentioned Act
during 1928:—
Number of complaints in hand 1st January, 1928 240
,, complaints (rats) during the year ending
December 31st, 1928 321
,, complaints (mice) during the year ending
December 31st, 1928 119
680
,, visit and re-visits 5,123
,, rats caught in traps or killed by dogs 1,450
,, rats found dead through poisoning 640
„ premises cleared of rats 350
,, premises cleared of mice 70
,, pavements taken up, fronting houses 58
,, drains tested by Sanitary Inspectors 60
,, reconstructed or repaired 30
,, floors of kitchens, sculleries, passages and
coal cellars concreted 78
,, letters to owners and agents 30
Amount of Rat-quit used 1,661 packets.
,, Rodine used 2,137 tins.
Most of the defective drains were in private houses. As the presence of rats is
usually regarded as prima facie evidence of drain defects, the work of the Rat Officer
is carried out in close co-operation with that of the District Sanitary Inspectors.
The following are the total complaints for the past five years:—
Year. Rats. Mice.
1924 295 46
1925 268 32
1926 354 73
1927 326 99
1928 321 119
HOUSING.
Reference has been made in previous reports to the house-to-house inspection
carried out by the Sanitary Inspectors in accordance with the instructions of the
Health Committee. This has been continued throughout the year according to plan.