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RATS AND MICE DESTRUCTION.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Pood 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 PestsAct, 1949, up to 31st March, 1959,
and in Circular No. I. 3003 dated 9th March, 1959, notified
local authorities that under authority of section h, of the
Local Government Act, 1958, the grants hitherto payable would
cease to be made on expenditure on rodent control incurred
after 31st March 1959? from which date the financial
responsibility would rest with the Town Council.
The Act places upon the occupiers or, in certain
circumstances the owners, of land (including buildings) the
responsibility for the destruction of rats and mice thereon
and for keeping the land free from such pests.
It is the duty of the Council to carry out inspections
to see that this is done, and to secure so far as practicable
that their district is kept free from rats and mice. Where
necessary they may serve upon owners or occupiers notices
requiring them to take steps for this purpose and penalties
are laid down for failure to comply with such notices.
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 Tinder 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 timesit 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.
Fifty schools, business or industrial premises, and two
agricultural properties 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 July the 1 8th maintenance treatment of the
Corporation's sewer system was carried out; in October the
11th annual test baiting of the sewer system was completed and
this was followed up with the 19th maintenance treatment in
November.
51.