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32
14. RODENT AND INSECT PEST CONTROL.
It is very pleasing to record that during the year no legal
action was required under the provisions of the Prevention of Damage
by Pests Act, 1949. This is some indication of the co-operation
which exists between the department, householders and business people.
A good liaison is maintained, through servicing agreements,
between the department and the majority of commercial and industrial
interests in the town. The work is carried out with efficiency and
economy and this service is much appreciated.
As reported in previous years, infestations of domestic
properties are very often due to the shelter provided to rodents by
the accumulation of rubbish and unwanted articles such as prams, bedsteads,
cycles, odds and ends of furniture and furnishings, and other
items not normally collected by the refuse collectors. It is hoped
that arrangements will be made in the near future to provide a service
for the collection of such articles.
Effective control was sought by a thorough inspection of
buildings in forty-two different blocks. This is known as 'block
control'.
Rodent Control- Sewers. The 10% test treatment commenced
late in 1959 was completed early in I960 after which the fourth and
final treatment of a series was completed. The results fully justified
the use of sodium fluoracetate as a labour-saving technique.
It will be recalled that the weather during most of 1960 was
very wet and mild, resulting in constant surcharging, the heavy condensation
on the underside of many manhole covers simply washed the
bait away, and several attempts at treatment had to be abandoned.
It is hoped, however, that with the descaling of sewers well under way,
and better weather conditions, it will be possible to apply successful
treatments next year.
During surveys and inspections, the incidence of rodents
revealed seventeen faulty drains, two broken sewers, four choked drains
and seven interceptor caps missing.
It is pleasing to report that co-operation with the staff
in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Laboratory at
Tolworth has not only been maintained but extended in that groups of
colonial and foreign students have been sent to us for demonstrations