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RODENT CONTROL
Arrangements for the destruction of rats and mice continued, and
as in previous years, complaints and retreatments were sufficient to
warrant the employment of a full-time operative.
The number of complaints received during 1956 has decreased
slightly, being 371 as compared with 410 for 1955.
Although the number of visits by the Rodent Operative decreased
from 860 in 1955 to 762 in 1956, those made by Inspectors increased
from 217 in 1955 to 257 in 1956, therefore one must conclude that
many of the complaints were such as to necessitate more expert
attention than that required during routine treatments.
Two notices were served under the Prevention of Damage by
Pests Act, 1949; both were complied with by the persons concerned.
Good relationship still exists between the Officers of the Local
Authority and Officers of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries,
and the meetings of the Workable Area Committee held three times
per year still give scope for useful discussion.
The number of complaints received in the past is as follows:
1948 210 1949 287 1950 284
1951 290 1952 330 1953 316
1954 324 1955 410 1956 371
Appreciation should be recorded of the co-operation given by the
Borough Engineer and Surveyor and his Department in providing the
necessary gang for the work on sewer treatment.
A quick review of the results of the treatment for 1956 shows an
improvement on the years 1954 and 1955 which should indicate a
lower rat population in the sewers.
The usual detailed charts are given on the following pages.
Surface Treatment:
The following table shows the results of the years work
Number of inspections made by the Public Health
Inspectors 257
Complaints received 371
Revisits to premises 292
Visits to adjacent premises 107
Total premises visited 762
Number of baiting points 3556
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