Rubbish Dump Rats Not So Numerous

Northern Advocate, 24 September 1949, Page 7

Rubbish Dump Rats Not So Numerous

Although the Whangarei Borough rubbish dump is a harbouring place for rats, there are not as .many rats there as some people are led to believe. Control measures have kept their numbers down. An extermination project is under consideration and it may be put into operation in the near future. The borough inspector (Mr J. H. Ashton) made these observations when speaking of the anti-rat campaign being conducted this week in an effort to rid the town of as many of the rodent pests as possible. He said the campaign was going very well. Children as well as adults were actively taking part in the battle against rats. First-class films supplied by the Department of Health had been most useful in impressing on adults and children, the need for exterminating the pests. SECTIONS CLEARED Some shopkeepers who had already been supplied with one issue of poison baits, had obtained further issues, while, in addition to obtaining free poison, many people were purchasing large quantities of their favourite brands of rat poison. Mr Ashtcn said that the appeal to householders to clear their properties of refuse and places which might provide shelter for rats, had resulted in several sections being properly cleared. However, not as many people as expected had taken this action. The position in this regard might be improved when the borough council made its next inspection of sections and backyards in the borough.