View report page

44
infested with rats or mice, shall be liable, on summary
conviction, to a fine not exceeding five pounds, or,
where he has been served with a notice under this
Act requiring him to take such steps, not exceeding
twenty pounds."
The Borough Council are the authority required to
execute and enforce the Act. In the event of the
occupier failing to take necessary action, the Council
may serve notice requiring him to take steps for the
purpose of destroying rats and mice and of preventing
his land or premises becoming infested, or, after 24
hours' notice, they may enter the premises, carry out
the work and recover any reasonable expenses from
him.
The Sanitary Inspectors attended to all complaints
respecting premises said to be infested with rats, but
were unable to give the necessary time for their systematic
detection and destruction, and as the nuisance
was found to be of a serious nature the Council has
resolved to appoint a whole-time Rat Officer for so long
a period as may be found to be necessary.
Scavenging.—The service for the weekly collection
of house refuse was well maintained, and but few
complaints of omission were received. It is, however,
much to be regretted that the bi-weekly collection from
fiats, where the storage of refuse generally presents
difficulties, has been discontinued.
HOUSING.
The general housing conditions in the borough were
dealt with in the Report for 1919. 20 houses built by
private enterprise were completed last year, but the
Council have been unable to acquire any land suitable
for building purposes. The Housing Committee have
made full enquiries respecting 31 sites, comprising
practically all the vacant land in the borough, but
either the land could not be purchased or the estimated
cost was too high, and any hope of the Council being
able to formulate any building scheme must be
abandoned.