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RATS AND MICE DESTRUCTION.
The Prevention of Damage "by Pests Act, 1949, 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 under no legal obligation to do this
and does not undertake to provide a service for the
destruction of vermin, but allows 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.
Forty-eight 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 June, the 20th maintenance treatment of
the Corporation's sewer system was carried out; in
October, the 12th annual test baiting of the sewer
system was completed and this was followed up with the
21st maintenance treatment in November.
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