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RATS AND MICS DESTRUCTION.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries continued
its grant-aid of 50 per cent of the irrecoverable
expenditure incurred "by the Council in carrying out its
functions under the Prevention of Damage by pests Act,
1949.
Grant-aid is not available in respect of
expenditure incurred on treatment at commercial and
industrial premises, and the full cost of the work has
therefore to be recovered from the occupiers or, in
certain circumstances, the owners.
58 business or industrial premises, schools, etc.
were treated by the Council's staff on payment of the
cost involved by the occupiers or owners concerned.
Whilst it is the duty of occupiers of houses
to keep their premises free from rats and mice, the
Council continued to carry out treatment of infestations
at private dwellings without charge provided the occupiers
took such steps as might from time to time be-necessary
and reasonably practicable for preventing their premises
from becoming infested.
This decision has considerably facilitated the work
at orivate houses as treatment is able to proceed almost
immediately an infestation is found.
The figures which follow indicate the extent of the
work carried out during the year, and suggest that we
are keeping the rodent population to a very low level.
32.