CONTROL OF RATS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 13, 11 October 1943, Page 6

CONTROL OF RATS

Christchurch Proposal COMPETITION FOR DOGS Dominion Special Service. CHRISTCHURCH, October 9. A rat-catching competition for dogs in Christchurch is .proposed by Mr. J. W. Huggins, chief health inspector ot the city council as one means of dealing with the rat menace. In a letter to the council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce last evening Mr. Huggins described the proposed competition as an additional inducement to deal with a pest on which war should be waged by everybody systematically and continuously. Mr. Huggins said that he intended to recommend to the city council that it should be a party to a competition to begin early in the’New Year with a prize to be presented to the owner of the best rat-catching dog. He was asking for the support of the chamber of commerce, as it would be necessary to obtain the co-operation of owners of business premises where the rat menace was known to be serious. “Certain conditions would have to be laid down, and it would be necessary for the medical officer of health to suggest ways of handling dead rats,” added Mr. Huggins. “In addition to a first prize, it may be advisable to provide minor prizes or a capitation of 3d. for each rat caught. I realize that if this is done lads may ‘import’ rats from other parts of the district.” In support of his proposal Mr. Huggins enclosed a clipping from a Northern Ireland newspaper which described the presentation of a prize of £lO awarded 'bv the National Canine Defence League to a boy whose purebred fox terrier won the rat-killing championship of Northern Ireland by killing 803 rats in five months in the town of Dungannon.

“We started the question of dealing with the rat menace, and we should not ignore this letter,” said Mr. Geoffrey 11. Wood, president of the chamber. “I don't know if this is the best method of going about it, but rat traps and poisons are practically unprocurable, and we have got -to find some alternative.”

Mr, W. S. Mac Gibbon: Is it the intention to purchase a dog for the chamber of commerce and enter the competition? Mr. M. J. Russell asked why rat poison could not be obtained when it was possible to obtain all sorts of other medicinal preparations. From what he had heard, the rats seemed to thrive on all the poisons that were issued now.

Mr. H. S; Williams: I think the city inspector is trying to pass the buck to us. It is his job to look after the problem.

The council decided to refer the proposal to its house committee.