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Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 270, 10 August 1943, Page 4

Apparently tbo material difficulties in the way of a systematic campaign against (he present plague of rats in Wellington—(lie scarcity of trajis and of supplies of poison-will be eased in the near future, but. not to any substantial extent. It seems little use urging the citizens to make war on the vermin when the means are inadequate, but there is at least one precautionary measure that, is open to all concerned, and that is to be careful about leaving food-scraps, or anything else rats may fancy, in accessible places. A legal obligation' rests upon householders to have everything of this kind in covered receptacles, but under present war-time conditions the inspection necessary to see that this is complied witli is not possible to the extent required to ensure that it. is being generally done. Any slackness iirising from such lack of supervision reacts upon the individual who offends, for the price of indifference or carelessness is an increase of rats and in the damage caused. The rat menace is very serious, and may become a positive danger to the community unless everyone is prepared to lend their co-operation with the civic authorities in dealing with it.