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RATS AND LICE DESTRUCTION (Cont.)
The policy of the Council is, however, to give such
assistance as is possible to the occupiers of private dwelling
houses. For that purpose they permit their own small rodent
control staff, who are primarily engaged to deal with Corporation
property (including sewers) to give advice and practical help
where appropriate, without charge, subject to the signing of the
"Request for Treatment" form.
The Council is under no legal obligation to do this and does
not undertake to provide a service for the destruction of vermin,
but does allow its staff to help so far as time permits. Many
requests are received and are responded to as quickly as possible,
and in the order received as far as practicable, but at times it
is as long as a week before complaints can be dealt with.
Every effort is made to give householders the best possible
service with the staff available.
Grant-aid is not available in respect of expenditure incurred
on treatment at commercial and industrial properties and the full
cost of the work has therefore to be recovered from the occupiers
of such premises or, in certain circumstances, the owners.
Fifty-one business or industrial premises, school, etc. were
treated by the Council's staff on payment of the cost involved by
the occupiers or owners concerned.
The figures which follow indicate the extent of the work
carried out during the year. It seems that the rodent population
is being kept down to as low a level as is likely to be achieved
until new techniques are evolved and perhaps new poisons
introduced.
During May the 14th maintenance treatment of the
Corporation's sewer system was carried out, in September the
ninth annual test baiting of the sewer system was completed and
this was followed up with the 15th maintenance treatment in
November.

46.