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Rats and Mice Destruction.—The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949, came into operation
on 30th March, 1950, on which date the Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919, was repealed. The new
Act transferred the duties and responsibilities from County Councils to Borough and District Councils.
Under the 1919 Act the primary duty of keeping premises free from rats and mice was placed on the occupier,
but now the obligation "to keep their area, so far as practicable, free from rats and mice" is placed upon
the local authority. Occupiers are required to give notice when they have knowledge that rats or mice
are present in substantial numbers, but there is no guidance as to what constitutes a " substantial " number.
Owners and occupiers of food premises are required to notify the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and
not the local authority, of any infestation of their premises which involves a risk of substantial loss of or
damage to food. Local authorities are empowered, by formal notice, to require owners or occupiers of
property to comply with requirements necessary to keep the district, so far as practicable free from rats and
mice. There is a right of appeal to the Court only if the notice requires the execution of structural work.
The Act retains the principle that the owner or occupier has a right to arrange for the destruction of rats
and mice on his property, whether or not in pursuance of a notice served upon him. Except where the
local authority are satisfied that it is necessary to treat a group of separately occupied premises as a
" block " occupiers may employ persons to keep property free from rats and mice, but if such persons are not
rodent operatives employed by the local authority, the results of the service rendered by such persons must
be to the satisfaction of the local authority. It is obligatory on the Council to recover the expenses reasonably
incurred in taking steps for the destruction of rats and mice on business premises, but permissive as
far as the cost of treating private dwellings is concerned. The council has decided to make no charge for
the treatment of private dwelling-houses unless there is failure on the part of the owner or occupier to
co-operate in preventing infestation. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries may make to local
authorities a grant equal to one half of the expenditure incurred in the performance of their duties under
the Act so far as such expenditure has not been recovered.
No notification of the presence of rats or mice in substantial numbers has been received, but by the
visits of the Sanitary Inspectors and the Rodent Officer and complaints of " rats coming from next door,"
no gross infestation should escape attention. The Council employs a Rodent Officer who is responsible
for svstematic inspection, planning; of treatment, supervising the work of the rodent operatives and checking results.

Test baiting, and where necessary, treatment is carried out to sewers, watercourses, tips, etc. By
whatever means rats and mice gain access to premises their continued presence is due to conditions on
the premises which provide food and/or shelter. Unless occupiers take the necessary precautions to discourage
rats progress towards eradication will be slow.
During the year a young child was poisoned by consuming a bait intended for rats. The child
recovered, but the source of the bait was not traced. The incident should be a warning of the need for
constant care in the use of rat poison. The services of the Council's skilled staff are available to all.
Exchange of Articles for Rags, etc.—Under the Public Health Act, 1936, it is an offence for any
person who collects or deals in rags, etc., to sell or deliver, whether gratuitously or not, any article whatsoever
to a child under the age of 14 years, in exchange for rags, etc. The Police notify the Council of any such
contraventions coming to their notice.
During the year one dealer in rags was prosecuted and a fine of 40/- was imposed.
Shops Act, 1934, Section 10.—During the year a Certificate of Exemption in regard to the
provision of washing facilities was issued for one shop. Adequate arrangements having been made the
Certificate of Exemption in relation to the provision of sanitary accommodation was withdrawn in the
case of one shop.
Swimming Baths.—One private and three municipal swimming baths are situate in the Borough
and were open to the public. During the year 4 samples of water were taken from these baths, and the
results of the analysis were satisfactory in each case. The purpose of the filtration and chlorination of
swimming bath water is to provide a constant supply of clear and sparkling water reasonably protected
against contamination by disease producing germs. The great variation in " bathing loads " and consequently
in degree of pollution makes the protection of swimming bath water no simple task. While baths'
staff do everything to maintain a "safe" standard of bath water the bathers themselves could assist very
materially by the observance of strict personal hygiene.
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD
Milk.—During the year 132 inspections were made at dairies and retail purveyors premises.
Under the Milk (Special Designation) Regulations 37 licences for the sale of " tuberculin tested" milk, 42 for
the sale of " pasteurised " milk and 34 for the sale of " sterilised " milk were issued.
Complaints of milk being supplied in dirty bottles or in bottles containing extraneous matter
continue to be received. Though the number is small in relation to vast issue to the public the Department
continues to bring to the notice of the trade the importance of clean methods of handling and retailing milk.
The public could also give more attention to this matter. Bottles should not be returned to the
milkman before being well rinsed in cold water. Milk remaining in bottles draws flies, provides a good
growing medium for germs and may give the bottles a bad odour. Bottles in which milk has dried are hard
to wash afterwards. Milk bottles should not be used for purposes other than to hold milk. Everyone is
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