372 



the local authority twenty-eight days' notice in which to take effec- 

 tual measures for Ihe destruction of the rats in such area. And 

 in case the local authority still declines or neglects to carry out 

 its duty it shall be lawful for the Local Government Board to take 

 such steps as it may deem advisable to carry out the duty imposed 

 upon the local authority by Section I of this Act. 



Repayment of Money expended by Local Government. 4) All sums 

 expended by the Local Government Board in the carrying out of 

 such duty shall be refunded by the local authority. 



Power of Entry by Officers of Local Authority. 5) A sanitary 

 inspector or an inspector of nuisances, or an officer appointed by 

 the local authority for the purpose of destroying rats, may, without 

 a warrant, enter any place or area suspected of being a rat-infested 

 area or place, and any person who obstructs him in the execution 

 of his duties shall be liable to a fine not exceeding 5. 



Damage to Buiidings. 6) The local authority shall not be liable 

 for any damage done to buildings or other property caused by any 

 of its officers in the execution of their duty unless it can be shown 

 to the satisfaction of a Stipendiary Magistrate, or two Justices of 

 the Peace, or a County Court Judge that such damage was unne- 

 cessary. And any owner of such buildings or other property, and 

 also the local authority, shall have a right to appeal from the de- 

 cisions of any Stipendiary Magistrate or two Justices of the Peace 

 to a Court of Quarter Sessions, and from the decision of a County 

 Court Judge to the King's Bench Division of the High Court of 

 Justice. 



Interpretation. 7) The words " place or area " include dwelling- 

 houses, out-houses, factories, warehouses, docks, wharves, railway 

 stations and buildings attached thereto, stables, sewers, fields, gar- 

 dens, and stacks of wood, hay, and corn. 



The words " local authority " mean County Councils, City 

 Councils, Borough Councils, Urban District Councils, and District 

 Councils. 



8) (i.) This Act may be cited as the Destruction of Rats Act. 

 (ii.) This Act shall come into operation on the ist day of 

 October, 1909. 



