View report page

48
636 rooms at 411 premises, where neither tenant nor owner could be
shown to be directly responsible, were cleansed of vermin by spraying
by the staff of the Public Health Department.
During the year, owing to the difficulties in obtaining reliable
insecticide and the apparatus with which to apply it, arrangements
were continued to loan hand-sprayers and sell insecticide at cost
price to owners and tenants in order to assist them in clearing their
premises of vermin. Material to the value of £210 13s. 4d. was sold
for this purpose. This consisted of 3,361 pints of insecticide and
649 sprayers loaned or sold.
Rats and Mice Destruction Act, 1919.
The number of complaints received during the year of premises
being infested with rats was 394. These complaints were effectually
dealt with in most cases by the repair or reconstruction of defective
sewers, drains and sanitary fittings, under the supervision of the
Sanitary Inspectors.
In 51 cases it was necessary to serve notices under the Act upon
the occupiers of the land or premises.
Three premises were cleared under the agreement with Messrs.
Howard & Son (Ratcatchers), under the supervision of the Council's
Sanitary Staff.
Three hundred and ninety-four poison baits were provided and
laid down under the supervision of the Sanitary Inspectors. By this
means 289 premises have been effectively cleared of rats and
6 premises were under observation and treatment at the end of the
year. This method has proved to be very successful, and has
resulted in the extermination of a very large number of rats without
any complaints of smells after the rats have been poisoned.
Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restriction) Acts, 1920 aiid 1923.
The number of certificates granted under the Increase of Rent
and Mortgage Interest (Restriction) Acts during the year was 9. In
6 cases the work required on the notice was carried out, and in the
remaining cases the rent was reduced following action in the County
Court. In one case a certificate was applied for but not granted,
as formal notice of intention to increase the rent had not been
given by the landlord. Under Section 5 of the Rent and Mortgage
Interest (Restriction) Act, 1923, it is not now necessary for the
tenant to take proceedings at the County Court, but a copy of the
certificate must be served on the landlord, who may, if the work is
completed satisfactorily, obtain a certificate to this effect from the
Sanitary Authority on payment of one shilling.