SALE OF CHLOROFORM.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18127, 17 July 1924, Page 9

SALE OF CHLOROFORM.

defence minister replies to allegations.

PROFITEERING DENIED,

(FBXSS ASSOCIATION TZLZG&Ut.)

WELLINGTON, July IG.

In the House of Representatives tonight. in the course of his reply to Mr M. J. Savage (Auckland West), tho Hon. Sir R- Heaton Rhodes denied that the Department of Defence had been guilty of supplying the public with chloroform of inferior quality, or that it had indulged in profiteering in tho course of sales of such chloroform. Mr Savage drew the attention of the Minister to the statement of the representative of a r ell-known Edinburgh firm, who manufacture chloroform, who alleged that the Defenco Department took delivery of an inferior qualitv of chloroform known as "Blue Label," and sold it as first-class "White Label," and that it was landed at -4s and sold at Us Gd per lb; This was referred to as "profiteering. Mr Savage nsked the Minister if ho had seen and read the statement. Sir Heaton Rhodes replied that the Defenco Department had taken all its supplies of chloroform from t' lo Army Medical Department of the Office. In ordering the chloroform it was always specified that it should be Duncan ancf Flockhart's "hi to Label," and it was supplied as specified. "White Label" was distinctly marked as "pure for anaesthesia." As soon as doubt was thrown on the quality of this chloroform, a cable was pent to the Hteh Commissioner asking that enquiries be made. The reply received from the High Commissioner showed that the Armv Medical Department of the War Office in. October, 1916, on tho recommendation of the Council of the Society of Medicifie, in' strutted Duncan and FlocTthart to supplv in future "Blue Label" when supplying orders for chloroform for Armv use. They were further required to label the chloroform in block letters, on a white ground. Immediately this information was received by the' Defence Department, all sales of chloroform as ■' White Label'' were stopped, and all hospitals and persons purchasing chloroform, were ad--vised what it really was. The Minister ndded that the medical stores were closed in September last, and what chloroform remained was disposed of as "Blue Label." Regarding deaths which were alleged to have occurred from r tKe use. of tliis chloroform, ho could get no information to support this statement. Certainly there , were no deaths in New Zealand military hospitals. As far as the Government was concerned,, the Minister could not admit any responsibility, . nor could he admit that any person in the Dominion had been in* ,-|ured in any way. There had been nothijig in the way of profiteering in connexion with the sales of chloroform.