View report page

23
The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries has been
given power to issue regulations to control the methods
used by servicing firms in the destruction of rodents.
Scarcely anyone can wish to see additional controls
imposed upon traders, but there would appear to be good
reason for the introduction of the proposed new regulations
if they serve to eliminate the potential danger to
human beings by the use of certain types of material for
destroying rats and mice, etc. The new Act comes into
force on 31st March, 1950.
The servicing of private dwelling houses is carried
out free of cost to the tenants but business premises
are charged the actual cost to the Corporation, plus the
usual establishment charges,.
Attention has been directed in previous years to the
most common cause for rodent infestation in private dwellings
the domestic poultry and rabbit keeper. If care is exercised
over feeding of the animalS, and the runs and hutches are
kept clean, the risk of infestation is very much reduced.
But ideally hygienic conditions are seldom found- Poultry are
more frequently overfed than underfed. Surplus unwanted
food is seldom removed from the runs as it should be, and it
affords a readily available source of supply to visiting
rodents who usually also share the water in drinking troughs.
It is not sufficiently well known how fast rats breed
if they are comfortably housed and fed. One pair can produce
several litters in a year. The offspring may themselves
breed from three months of age. A little mental arithmetic
will indicate the possible results of undisturbed breeding
on the rat population, Fortunately, by constant work of
rat destruction in the town, the numbers are kept down, but
by reason of local circumstances it is virtually impossible
to obtain 100% destruction of rats.
The following statistical statement gives some indication
of the work carried out during 1949;-
Statistical Statement - 19U9.
Private Dwellings.
Number of premises inspected 359
„ „ „ found to be infested 250
„ separate infestations treated 291
„ „ visits for treatment and re-
inspections 1530
Business Premises.
Number of premises inspected 182
" " found to be infested 132
" " visits for treatment and re-
inspections 4170
Total Number of premises inspected during 1949.
Private Dwellings 359
Business premises 182
Number of Premises found to be Infested.
Private Dwellings 250
Business Premises 132
382