PHARMACISTS’ REPLY

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21807, 12 June 1936, Page 17

PHARMACISTS’ REPLY

REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF HOUSE EARLIER REPRESENTATIONS TO GOVERNMENT [THE PSEBB SpecUl Berries.] DUNEDIN, June 11. After discussion of the report of the Industries and Commerce Committee of the House of Representatives on the petitions of a large number of chemists and others against the development of a chain store system in their industry, the Chemists’ Service Guild of Otago and Southland has issued the following statement: — “The report states that chemists must ‘put their house in order.’ The most important fact bearing on this matter, and one of which no mention was made in the report, is this: “For many years representation* have been made to previous governments by the Pharmacy Board to have the Pharmacy Act, of 1908, amended so that the board should have some control over members generally. How then, we ask, is it possible for an administering body to ‘put its house in prder’ when such a means of control is denied it by the Government of the day? A few years ago, the pharmacists formed a New Zealand Guild, and one of its principal functions has been to protect the public from false claims, quack medicines, etc. At the same time, it will be found that pharmacists have always been in close touch with the Department of Health, and have co-operated with the Government in formulating regulations as to poisons, dangerous drugs, and other matters, all of which are to the benefit of the general public. And such regulations have been carried out by us to the best of our ability. “It must be generally admitted that chemists have been in a precarious position for some years, the main contributing factors being the depression, the introduction of the sales and the increase in the exchange, as against which there has been no increase in prices to the public. Further, the direct price-cutting campaigns which have been common to New Zealand have had very serious effects upon them. We are. in common with others, faced with shorter working and business hours; but we offer our full cooperation to the Government In arranging such hours without disturbing a necessary public service.”