PLAGUE PREVENTION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1124, 11 May 1911, Page 3

PLAGUE PREVENTION.

REGULATIONS TO BE GAZETTED,

Directions as to measure.", to be taken to cheek the spread of pltieiie through the medium of rats ore lo lie gazetted !<»•■>• week. The principal regulation is as l'ol"on'the report of the District Health Officer, or-;my inspector, or any authorised person that" on any premises rats or vermin exist or are harboured, oi- that there is evidence of such existence or harbouring, or that there is or has been unusual mortality- among rats, the local authority may of "its .own motion, and shall it' I ho District Health Officer so recommends/byi, requisition to the owner and occupier of the premises, require them or either of them to elfect any or. all of the provisions set out below, and in the manner and within the time specified in the requisition; provided that if tho District Health Officer is satistiefl immediate action is necessary he may take proceedings himself for—

(a) The destruction of rats by poisoning, or trapping, or such other means as the District Health Officer may direct.

(l>) Tho removal or obliteration of the nests, burrows, and habitual haunts of

rats. l>) The making of any hom-o or building en such premises, so far as practicable, proof against the ingress of rats. Id) The removal of any inoffensive or offensive refuse, rubbish, material or arliclr.' on any such premises which is or afford.--, or is in the opinion of the District Health Officer likely to afford,' a harbourage for rats. (e) The protection from access of rats, so far ;>.s practicable, of any article which is or is likely to be food for rats.

Penalties are provided for. failure .to comply with the requisition. It is further set mil that if there be evidence that rat-plague exists on any premises the District Health Officer may prohibit the use of the lioiiso nr building until the requisition has been complied with.

Local authorities are also required to cause- a careful inspection to\ be made within the district, or within such part as is dircctc! by the Minister, in order that the provisions above.set forth may be effectually exercised.