SALE OF POISONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 157, 4 July 1921, Page 11

SALE OF POISONS.

CHEMISTS SAY IT IS TOO LAX. WANT TIIK LAW AMKNDKI). Stricter laws "i'li regard to tin- s-.ih; of poison- are being urged In tin , Nr-w Zealand I'liiinniu \ !'..,.m1, ;i doputuion from which waited mi the Minwter of Public H.-alih ithf Hon. V. .1. I'avri in Wellington. According to the pre<!ikT.t of the b..f1r.l (Mr. .1. V. Tingey). New Zealand i- the must ln\ country in tho world Willi '.in' i-xceptiun of Smith An - traliii in regard to the sale vi" poisons, and there wore fmver dentin i" Knghui.l from poisuniny tlmti there were h; tliu Dominion.

So far a- <an bo gathered in Aurkland, the dosire i< not. a- might lie supposed, to eoncpntr«ti< tlio trade in poison- in tlip hands of the i h-Miii-ts. The trade wunlil ho HlVcted a- mui-li as storekeepers by a stricter law. One .if the roa-on- for the suggested amendment is tliat flip law i< antiquated, and wanto cnn*ulidiitiiiß and i>\ti>nii ; 111 it scope. It is fell that sonic |po;«o;nuis articles used in thp hnuaphuld v ■ i an , -

lessly lianclled nt prc-ciit. nnil in many i cases tho Ai-t i~ :i (lend loltc. What! is wanted !■< :i mmplpti' sclipilmU , .of llv | poisons in regard to wVith the pui'o!r.l-or | has ti) s>ipn. At pro-cut the" s.-lioiiuln ' enn bp ftdded lo by (ir.ler in CiMimili from tinip tn linn , , nml there j is riomotimps rnnfu-iims ;is ti>! what i< on tin* M-hodulo , ; aml j what i< nnt. "nr rpynH'M'iitativp i said he helipvod the nut in idoa nf tho Pharmai'V Board whs tn pnl tin , law I in a more complete and thorough Flitti* ■ than at present. A~Ued whnt Hip reference to the ivhulp-ialprs in >.!r. Tin- i jrpv's remark- meant, the "Star".-" informant r-Vul the provident prnh.ilily hail in mind the matter of nnrcotir l"Uix-. THE I'ARMKKS , TRAOR. ••Wliile no one would wish thai there j should be any fniluiv in takini; the j preatost precautions possible with regard tn tho sale of poisons we don't want. to encourngp the (lovornnipnt to introilnce any more hampering and rostriotivi , legislation in regard tv legitimate luisii,pss. w'fh us Bupplying the nei"'.s of f.he farmer.' , said thp head of a hi:; finil thiniorninjr. "TherP are n.icd about a farm many tilings, sm-li a< sliei'p dip that contain poison, lint in a long experience I cannot recall anythine fatal tliat has happened throufih a misuse of these commodities. With regard to the move deadly poisons which we don'l handle we have nothing to say. hut unless it can he shown that the present method of distribution of the well known farm commodities containing poison is dangerous, i 1 don't think there should l>e any more interference by legislation." AT THE GROCERS. A prominent provision store '■'■oDrietor said the only thing that \~f.f affect his trade would he further restrictions on the sale of thp carbolic disinfectants and rnt poison, lie considered the present method of checking the sale of these articles was ample to safe-guard thp public. The jrrocers had to keep a poison book just as well as the chemist, and as far as he was concerned it was kept most rigidly. To prove this he brought out the book showing dozens of entries, mainly for disinfectants bearing well known names. "We sell great quantities of these dis- j infeetants, and if the sale pf them is to be made any more difficult it will act as a deterrent to the use of an article which makes for the public health, and should be used as largely as possible. The same with rat poison. It is admittedly essential that these vermin should be kept down, and it should not he made inconvenient for the public to purchase- wellknown niixtures for getting them. I don't think anything should lie dour that would act as a deterrent upon efforts to make houses sanitary and safe front a health point of view."' Speaking of the chances of a would-be suicide being able to buy a bottle of sometiling at a grocers the "Star's" informant said suc ! < a person would be just as likely to get what ho wanted from a chemist. As a matter of fact it generally appeared in cases where people had taken poison that it was Iying.Jlbout the house, or had been bought for some other reason. The ciiscs Where a person had bought the poison deliberately with tin: intention of making an exit were comparatively few. He admitted that then be restrictions on the sale of poison, but thought the present method was sufficient safeguard. , j\t the same time there had been a good many poisons put on the market since the Poisons Act was passed, and it should he brought up to date.» (