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business or industrial premises.
With the co-operation of the Borough Engineer's
Department, two sewer treatments and test baiting were
undertaken during 1959- The extended period of baiting was
continued, pre-baiting being carried out on the first and
fourth day and poison baiting on the eighth day. The bait
used was sausage rusk with zinc phosphide as the poison and
paranitrophenol as a preservative. Repeated baiting took
place where there had been complete "takes".
The Ministry of Agriculture,Fisheries and Food informed
local authorities that although Government grants payable
under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949, ceased
after the 31st March, 1959, the withdrawal of this specific
grant did not imply any lessening of interest by the Minister
in the exercise by local authorities of their functions under
the Act.
The Minister felt that local authorities would not
only maintain the standard of control already exercised
within their districts, but would continue their efforts to
achieve progressive improvement. The Regional and
Divisional pests staff of the Ministry has been reorganised
so as to give an improved technical advisory service to
local authorities, and rodent control information on up-todate
methods resulting from research and development work
both in this country and abroad is available to local
authorities.
WOODWORM AND OTHER PESTS
Throughout the year, various complaints were received
from residents in the Borough of infestations of woodworm,
cockroaches, silver fish,clover mites and moths.
All the complaints received were investigated and where
required, the Department carried out the necessary
disinfestation.
In all, 6l houses were disinfested of woodworm, seven
of clover mites,five of cockroaches and three of moths.
Another house was disinfested of cockroaches, silver fish
and beetles. One shop which was heavily infested with flies
was also treated by the Department.
Of the houses treated to rid them of woodworm 54 were
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