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DISINFESTATION (Contd).
(c) General.
Advice is frequently sought from the Department
in the identification and measures for eradication
of insect pests of various kinds.
For the convenience of the public a stock of
insecticides and sprayers is held in the Department,
and these articles are sold at cost price when
required. This service seems to be much appreciated.
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT, 1948.
One burial was effected in accordance with
Section 50 of the Act where it appeared that no
suitable arrangements for the disposal of the body
were being made otherwise than by the Council.
PUBLIC MORTUARY.
During the year seventy-two bodies were
received into the mortuary for post-mortem examination.
RATS AND MICE 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.
48 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 private nouses as treatment is table 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 satisfactorily low
level.
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