NEW WAR ON RATS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 149, 19 March 1919, Page 4

NEW WAR ON RATS

EXTERMINATION CAMPAIGN IN BRITAIN.

The British Board of Agriculture intends 'to stand no more nonsonso from the common rat (states the Daily News") Preparation's have begun for witting a new nnd nioro torriblc war against the 45,000,000 ruts that are supnosed to thrive thero and to inflict worth of damage to property annually. A staff .of ratcatching officials with an expert adviser at their head is about to bo mobilised and trained in' tho most efficient methods of extermination. • A "Daily News" representative was informed at Whitehall that tho Board of Agriculture hope to issue shortly a circular letter to local authorities emphasising the urgent importance _ of tins matter, in view of tho increasing menace caused bv tho damage to foodstufts and crops. In addition to appointing tho expert adviser, tho board is urging the necessity of continuing the existing order bv tho Ministry of FoocT as to damage'done by iats, .pending _ permanent legislation, which will give tno hoard clearly defined statutory powers. The board is disturbed by tho serious reports from various parts of the country as tt» the virulence of the rat plague. Tho farmers have fears for the spring crops. Many local authorities, inundated bv Government orders which the war situation has of necessity produced, have not had time to deal with the plague, and many rat-catchers awl gamekeepers,. who used to keep- these pests in check, have gone into ■ tho Army. ■