SALE OF DRUGS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17747, 26 April 1923, Page 16

SALE OF DRUGS.

i.KKOM OC3 OWN COi<RESPOKDEST.) SYDNEY, April 19. ilecontly the State Government was taken severely to task for having failed to concern itself with the growing «so and abuse of narcotics. The criticism has drawn from tho Acting--I'remier of Now South "Wales (Mr Oakes) a reply that some of the Australian States have recently adopted stringent regulations dealing with narcotic drugs, but he thought that the Commonwealth, should do something to control' their importation; then the States, by. legislation, should prevent their indiscriminate supply to the public. The question is now being asked: Why wait for the Commonwealth? Every State Minister for Health for tho past twenty years has been tusked to introduce legislation effectively to control narcotics and poisons, but without success so tar, notwithstanding, it is claimed, that there are more deathß annually jn New South Wales from narcotics and poison than of 1 persons killed by trains, trams, and motor-cars combined. The protection which the Government 9 of Queensland and Victoria afford their public is cited as an example which New South "Wales well might follow.