Glue-sniff probe scepticism

Press, 13 June 1984, Page 3

Glue-sniff probe scepticism

PA Auckland The director of the Mental Health Foundation, Dr Max Abbott, says he is sceptical about the special Cabinet committee set up on Monday to study gluesniffing. Dr Abbott said yesterday he doubted the committee could find constructive solutions to something that had sprung from deep-rooted social and racial inequalities in some sections of society. Using the news media to publicise the harmful effects of glue-sniffing had every chance of backfiring and making things worse, he said.

Mr Roger Perkins, managing director of the big glue-seller, Selleys, said some retailers had already banned glue sales to those under 12 but he would have no objection to laws banning sales to those under a certain age. However, it would not be fair to force glue manufacturers to include substances in their glues that gave them an unpleasant smell. Politicians would be bet-

ter off looking for the cause of the glue-sniffing problem rather than trying to legislate against it, he said. Superintendent P. J. Gaines said that while he did not think glue thefts had become organised crime similar to drug-running it was “everywhere” in Auckland.