View report page

61
Attention is now being given to the ventilation, warming
and lighting of shops, etc., in accordance with the
requirements of the Shops Acts, 1934, and this work will
be continued during 1937.
Legal proceedings were taken against the occupier of
one shop in which a female " young person " was employed
for many more hours per week than the statutory limit.
The defendant, who pleaded guilty, was fined a total of £2,
and £3 3s. costs were awarded to the Corporation.
RATS AND MICE (DESTRUCTION) ACT, 1919
The effort to create public interest in this subject has
been continued, but without marked success. Concerted
action is difficult to achieve because occupiers of premises
adjacent to these known to be infested, decline to accept
any responsibility.
One week each year is usually designated by the
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries as National Rat
Week, but it would be advantageous if every week could
be so designated. These rodents cause very considerable
damage and ruin to foodstuffs, materials and buildings, and
it is estimated that each rat may cause a loss of £1 per
annum. Be this as it may, it is incontrove'rtible that they
are unwelcome guests anywhere and no effort should be
spared to keep the town free from their visitations.
During Rat Week the following action was taken:—
(1) 5,000 handbills were distributed through the
Schools and through the various departments of the
Corporation.
(2) Intensive action in connection with rat destruction
was taken on all Corporation property by means of rat
catchers, dogs and ferrets, and the following number of
rats were destroyed:—
59 Bucks 63 Does Total 122