WAR UPON THE RAT

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6807, 10 January 1929, Page 10

WAR UPON THE RAT

Activities in Auckland SYSTEMATIC WORK DONE AUCKLAND. Jnti. 8.

i According lo a recent analysis by the Health Department. Auckland's rats arc in a very healthy, sound condition and show no signs of bubonic plague. From a health point of view this is very satisfactory, although property-owners and merchants, contemplating losses to stock, may have cause lo question why rats should exist and why fatten at their expense.

But the Sanitary Department of the City Council, which has in its care the control of the rodents, does not concern itself about the commercial loss. Its primary concern is the maintenance of health and the shutting-out of all evidences of bubonic plague. The public hears little of the ceaseless war waged upon the rat. A time there was when the whole community was roused, but that is a long while ago —a matter of 28 years. Still the war has to be waged continuously.

New Zealand first became alive to the menace of tho rat in 1900 when diseased rats were found in the seaport towns. Immediately there was an outcry and indignant citizens commenced writing to the newspapers. Early in January the plague made its .appearance at Noumea and two weeks later in Australia. Interest was immediately taken in the sanitary conditions of the city and it appeared that these wore far from satisfactory. Notwithstanding this and the risk of the introduction of the plague at any time, the efforts to clean the city thoroughly were not properly maintained. Price Placed on Heads.

Boats from Sydney were quarantined [in March, 1900, and at a conference of [ the Mayor, Mr, David Goldie, Mr. >T. H. Witheford, chairman of the Harbour Board, and health officers certain precautionary measures were decided upon. It was stated that rats were dying in the city from some unknown cause and the City Council offered a penny n head for all rats delivered at the waterworks pumping station, Karangahape Boud. A circular was issued to houesholdcrs to destroy and burn rats and mice, avoiding contact with them. A meeting of the Cabinet held in April, 1900, adopted stringent regulations with regard to shipping. The Governor, Bord Ranfurly, took a keen, interest in precautionary measures in Auckland and personally inspected the wharves and parts of the city. At this suggestion the council appointed a viliganco committee to supervise precautionary measures. House to houso inspection was commenced on April IG. A sanitary commission set up by tire Government carried out a thorough investigation and many rats found on the wharves ■were found to be suffering from the plague. A day was fixed upon which everyone was requested to lay' poison. The Premier, J'Jr. Seddon, also conducted an inspection. In juno a man working in a gum store died from the plague. Auckland was declared an infected port and an emergency Act was passed by Parliament to prevent and check the disease. Measures were successful and it was not long before Auckland was again a << clcnu ,, port. In one way the plague was a blessing, as it was the cause of a general clean-up of the city'.

Sanitary Department Established

In 1902 the sanitary department oi : the City Council was established and part of its duties was to keep down the number of rats in the city. Since that time it has been working steadily in this direction. The march of progress has lightened its duties considerably. Eats were very prevalent in the old wooden buildings on the wharves and a huge staff was employed. With improved sewers, concrete wharves arid rat-proof buildings, the work is not now so arduous as formerly. Twenty-live years ago a walk in many of Auckland backyards at nighh would send rats scurrying in all directions. Now it is a hard task to discover a rat out about bis business. It was formerly a common sight to sco the rats making play across Quay Street from the wharves and entering the business premises.

Happily this: is all past. Eats have now t.o keep very quiet in order to escape tho official eye. The worre is restricted to tho business portion of the city and natural reproduction and continual influx of suburban rats keep the number about the same. A man is employed setting and clearing SO traps in 35 premises in the city. The rats so caught are all examined for evidence cf disease before being destroyed.

Last year 0(570 rats were caught, between 6000 and 7000 being the usual number. Poison is distributed to those requiring it, 3550 packages being distributed last year. No poisoning is carried out by the officials themselves. The Auckland Harbour Board also employs a special ratcatcher to control the wharves.

People are stated lo be. fully alive to the Tat danger. For their own sakes they see that buildings' erected are rat-proof in accordance with the bylaws. Gradually infested areas are being cleaned up and the work of tho sanitary department is becoming less difficult. Indeed, it is now stated there is no more sanitary city in New Zealand than Auckland.