RATS AND MARKETS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31195, 20 October 1966, Page 16

RATS AND MARKETS

Firms Dispute Assertion

None of the firms had seen a rat over a period of 10 to 20 years, said a statement issued yesterday by three fruit and vegetable wholesalers—the Macfarlane Trading Company, Ltd., the Park Davis Trading Company, Ltd., and Radley Brothers, Ltd.

The statement was in answer to a leading article in “The Press” welcoming the new market premises, but saying that the former premises were ‘unhygienic and a magnet for rats and mice.” “It is true that with doors open all day and often in the evening, rodents can enter any building,” the statement said. “Moreover, they have been known to enter the markets in produce from rail or ships, but immediately any sign of this was apparent prompt action was taken, and we believe that our generalgoods neighbours in Lichfield street must have acted similarly, because there has been no sign whatsoever of rats and mice over a long period.” The rooms were swept after each day’s sale and the only real worry was the dust that arose from bags of potatoes It was difficult to keep this from settling on the ceilings of the high roofs, said the statement. “This will be even more difficult in the new premises, and we are investigating ways of getting it under control, because we believe that markets handling perishable foodstuffs should be kept to the highest standard,” the statement concluded.

If none of the firms has seen a rat in its premises for 10 to 20 years, how is it known that rats have entered the markets in produce from rail or ships? It is reassuring nevertheless, to learn that prompt action was taken against these invisible rodents; we trust that rats will neither be seen in nor be known to have entered the new premises.—Ed., “The Press.”