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89
Rat Destruction.
Two hundred and thirty-seven formal complaints
regarding infestation by rats were received during the
year and poison baits were laid in the following positions:-
Private houses 295
Other premises 61
Sewers 1,071
The special dustbin traps in the sewers have
accounted for the death of 661 rats during the year,
and break-back traps and ferrets have accounted for
479 rats.
The amount received by the Council from property
owners for the services of the Rat Officer was, during
1931, £20 5s. Od.
Upon inspection of the premises concerning which
complaints were received it was found that in 43 cases
the drains were defective and in 14 cases the rats were
coming from defects in the sewers. In all these cases
the necessary repairs and relaying of the drains and
sewers have been carried out.
Until 9th June, 1931, the arrangements detailed
in my last report for the work of rat repression still
obtained. On that date however, Mr. Harvey who
had been part-time Rat Officer to the Council for ten
years, retired, and Mr. J. Gigner who had been acting
as his assistant, was appointed as full-time Rat
Officer.
The London County Council (General Powers)
Act, 1928, Section 28.
The purport of this section, whose provisions
were described in detail in the annual report for 1928,
is to enable the Medical Officer of Health to obtain the
compulsory removal to an institution of aged and
infirm or physically incapacitated persons who are
living under insanitary conditions and unable to devote
to themselves or to receive from persons with whom
they reside, proper care and attention. Removal