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121
dance and the keeping of records of animal movements. Daring
the year, periodic inspections were carried out to prove that
the Act was well observed by occupiers of the three licensed
premises.
Riding Establishments
Act
1964
Another piece of legislation calculated to protect animals
was promulgated in 1964 with the Riding Establishments Act.
It was a Private Members Bill and strengthens the powers of
licensing authorities to control stables where horses etc. are
let or hired for riding. The licensing provisions are imilar to
those in the Animal Boarding Establishments Act but the
authority must consider not only the suitability of the premises
but also the suitability, qualification and experience of
the applicant to manage such premises.
There are 3 licensed establishments in the Borough.
Rats and Mice
Although many people consider them part and parcel of
life, it cannot be denied that they are not only destructive and
frightening but particularly in relation to rats, form a positive
hazard to health being the vehicle for transmitting to humans
the dread disease known as Weils disease. Therefore all
possible steps must be taken to disinfest all premises and
places. To this end two rodent operatives are engaged in this
work under the direction of the district inspectors. Details of
this branch of the work are incorporated in Appendix 27.
They also serve the public well in disposing of wasps nests
to alleviate a serious cause of distress.
Atmospheric
Pollution
Clean Air
Prior to 1956 when the Clean Air Act was placed on the
statute book atmospheric pollution was controlled by the
Public Health Act, 1936 Sections 101 to 106 generally, which
empowered local sanitary authorities to deal with 'black'
smoke from industrial chimneys under bye-law powers or smoke
in such quantities as to be a nuisance'. There were escape
clauses and the special defence of having "used the best
practicable means available for preventing the nuisance from
smoke" mitigated seriously the efficacy of the powers. The
remarkable nature and serious effects of the 1952 'London
Smog' induced the government to constitute the Beaver Committee
whose report influenced Parliament to pass the Clean
Air Act of 1956, which acknowledged the considered opinion
of the Committee that domestic smoke was an important factor
in the creation of fogs, the acceleration of respiratory disorders
and had damaging effects on buildings, materials and
plant life.