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Outworkers.
Outworkers within the Borough are visited periodically by the Sanitary Inspectors.
The number of outworkers and the nature of the work carried on, in the list
prepared in August, 1951, was as follows:—
Wearing apparel 112
Household linen, etc. 19
Cosaques, Christmas crackers and similar 3
Lampshades 72
Brush-making 1
Carding of buttons, etc. 1
Stuffed toys 2
Rodent Control.
Measures for the destruction of rats and mice were continued during the year.
The number of complaints received totalled 1,256. In addition to investigating
premises involved in complaints, a systematic inspection under the "block control"
principle was carried out covering the inspection of 11,281 premises. The number
of properties infested by rats and mice amounted to 1,776, including 156 business
and industrial premises. All infestations coming to light are systematically treated.
Where the cause of the trouble is found to be due to defective drains or other defects
in the building, the owner is called upon to effect the necessary repairs.
During the year warfarin was added to the list of poisons available for rodent
control. It is a blood anti-coagulant and was originally found to exist in spoiled
sweet clover, the eating of which causes a fatal haemorrhagic disease in cattle. It
is claimed to be relatively harmless to man and domestic animals in the concentrations
used and to create no prejudice or bait shyness in rats. It is too early
to say whether it is more effective than the other poisons available but it is a welcome
alternative poison.
The Council continued its practice of carrying out free treatment for the destruction
of rats and mice in private dwellings. A charge is made in respect of treatment
carried out by the Council's Rodent Control Service at business premises.
With the co-operation of the Borough Engineer's Department, two sewer treatments
and one test baiting were undertaken during 1951, and in this way the number
of rats in the sewers has been kept under control. In large areas of the Borough the
sewers are modern and are clear of rats, but in the older parts of the Borough the
rat population seems to remain static. In spite of the kill obtained at each treatment
there is a build-up between treatments and so long as the poison does not
reach the whole of the rat population the survivors will continue to breed. The
only limiting factors appear to be the length of time elapsing between treatments
and the amount of food available.
The following table shows the percentage of takes recorded in the maintenance
treatments:—