Auckland Committee To Combat Drugs

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31394, 13 June 1967, Page 14

Auckland Committee To Combat Drugs

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 12. A committee to combat drug addiction was established in Auckland tonight by a meeting of 250 people. a* J 1

The meeting had been called by an anonymous Auckland father whose 17-year-old daughter had been found taking drugs. During the gathering, the father sat unrecognised in the audience.

The national head of the Criminal Investigation Branch (Detective Chief Superintendent R. J. Walton) flew from Wellington to attend the meeting, with instructions from the Minister of Police (Mr Allen) to give all possible assistance.

Chief Superintendent Walton was one of a panel of speakers which included the superintendent of the Oakley psychiatric hospital (Dr. P. P E. Savage), the director of the Auckland Alcoholism Trust

Board (Mr R. C. Sandford), the head of the Auckland vice squad (Detective Inspector G. E. Perry), and Mr K J. Beny, a member of the executive of - the Auckland University Students’ Association. Five Members After hearing the speakers, the meeting decided that the Auckland Alcoholism Trust Board should be asked to extend its information and consultative work to include drug addiction.

A committee of five members was also set up and asked to co-operate with the trust board.