WAR AGAINST RATS.

Shannon News, 13 December 1921, Page 3

WAR AGAINST RATS.

HEALTH EEPABTMENT’S PRECAUTIONS. Two communications were received by the -Horowbenua County Council from tbe* Health Department on Saturday regarding the necessity of taking action to prevent the introduction of bubonic plague into New Zealand. Dr. Valin tine, Director-General of Health, stated that the Department was adopting the following precautions in reference to shops trading with Australian ports infected with this disease: Measures Adopted in Australia. « The ships in ports infected with rat or human plague are fumigated throughout by the “Clayton” process when empty. They are then loaded under supervision of the Commonwealth Quarantine Service, o all packages ratbroaejied, or not rat-proof, or obviously not rat-free, being excluded. 'Prior to sailing the whole of the passengers and crew are medically inspected by an officer of the Quarantine Service. • Measures Adopted in New Zealand. - On arrival in New. Zealand any ship from an infected port is subjected to very careful medical inspection. If no evidence of human or rat plague is found she is allowed to berth subject J ' to certain restrictions, such as being fendered off 4ft. from the wharf, being * made to adopt rat-guards on all ropes, hawsers, etc. The cargo is unloaded under the .supervision of an officer of this Department, any rat-broached packages being detained for further treatment. In addition, very active measures are being taken by the Harbour ' Boards for the destruction of rodents on the wharves and in the sheds under their control. These precautions will be of little use unless local authorities co-operate with the Department, ,and in this respect I do not think, that many local authorities sufficiently realize the seriousness of the position and the necessity /for prompt action, not only as regards the destruction of rats / but for a close supervision of those places where rats are liable to congregate and breed; and in this respect T would commend to your Council the no cessity of taking immediate steps with regard to the incineration of all garbage and refuse deposited in tips and other places, which I know from my own experience are in many cases not satisfactorily supervised. I therefore ask with all,confidence for the co-op-eration df your Council in an endeavour to prevent this scourge from gaining access and hold in this country. I know that the Medical Officers of Health have been "in communication with you on this matter, and it is only to emphasise the necessity of immediate action that I venture to inflict your Council with another communication to the same effect. In some countries, to : meet an occasion of this sort, a “cleanup” or “health-week” has been instituted. This I regard as rather a spasmodic effort which is liable to lapse. It- is only by constant activity that anything definite can be achieved- as regards cleaning our cities, and I consider that if the co-operation of the public can be obtained, more good may be attained by the appointment of additional Inspectors to direct and advise householders as to the need for the most careful disposal of refuse. Dr. J. E ; . Faris, Medical Officer of Health, wrote that it was important , that as active a campaign as possible be inaugurated against rats. All property owners and occupiers of premises should co-operate with the Council.The destruction of rats was a mcasuK? which, apart from, the health point of view, was one which at all time was of "• benefit to citizens. Accordingly, he asked that the Council make, known that all citizens within the area controlled by the Council should take steps to exterminate rats on premises occupied by them. Such a measure could not fail to be productive of great success. Cr. Monk said the Council should operate as far as it could with the Department, and make known the eon- • tents of the communications received. Cr. Ryder: It is the duty of the press to help in such a matter. (;t * The Chairman: They will assist us I am sure. He therefore asked that the / press of Levin, Otaki and Shannon would be good enough to publish the letters received, in order that the residents of the district might be guided J in the matter of what precautions were