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25
PET ANIMALS ACT, 1951.
This Act provides for a system of licensing and inspection of
pet shops by local authorities.
Two applications were received and after inspection and
report, licences were granted.
SHOPS ACT, 1950.
I have little to report under this heading. A few warnings
regarding minor offences were given. A brief summary of certain
provisions of this Act was circulated to all shopkeepers in the
Borough.
SMOKE ABATEMENT.
During the year complaints were investigated with respect
to several factory chimneys in the district. Although observations
were kept, in no case was smoke emitted in such quantity as to
be a nuisance. Improvements were brought about following discussions
with the managers of the factories concerned.
ERADICATION OF BED BUGS.
During the year the following numbers of houses were
found to be infested with bed bugs:—
Infested Disinfested
Council houses (rooms) 7 7
Other houses (rooms) 5 5
There is little doubt that the incidence of bed bug infestation
is far less now than in the pre-war years. The use of D.D.T. and
Gammexane may have some bearing on this, whereby secondhand
furniture, etc., so often the vehicle for introducing these vermin
into houses can be effectively and more easily disinfested.
RATS AND MICE DESTRUCTION.
This important work under the Prevention of Damage by
Pests Act, 1949, has continued without interruption. The policy
of the Department has been to encourage occupiers of premises to
give immediate notification when rats are seen or their presence
suspected. This service is now accepted by the majority of ratepayers,
which does tend to increase the number of premises
inspected and treated, but has the overall effect of reducing major
infestations to a really low figure.