Glue ‘pushers’ law attempt

Press, 4 October 1984, Page 1

Glue ‘pushers’ law attempt

PA Wellington An Opposition member of Parliament will attempt to introduce legislation in Parliament fining “pushers” of solvents to children. Mr G. E. Lee (Nat., Hauraki) gave notice yesterday that he would introduce the Solvent Abuse Bill. He said outside Parliament that some children , who were solvent sniffing were clearly getting to an addictive stage. The Minister of Social Welfare, Mrs Hercus, has said a Government report made it clear that a low-key education and treatment programme was the appropriate measure to deal with solvent sniffing. There was no point in

Parliament spending precious time promoting legislation it knew by overseas experience would not succeed, she said. Mr Lee said the Opposition believed further steps should be taken to combat the problem. Under his bill persons procuring solvents for sniffing could be fined up to ?1000 or jailed for six months. The law surrounding the •power of the courts .to send persons to detoxification centres would also be clarified, and the bill would provide for counselling for young people under 16 who were associating with “undesirables” identified as solvent abusers, he said.