SALE OF POISONS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 837, 8 June 1910, Page 6

SALE OF POISONS.

VIEWS OF CHEMISTS. A DOMINION CONFERENCE. Proposals for amending tho law 'oil the sale of poisons formed.the only subject of discussion at the opening session of the conference of Federated New Zealand chemists, which was held in tho Pharmacy Board-room last night. The delegates present were:—Messrs. L. M'Kenzie (president), F. Castle, Hobsou, Shaw, Brien, Wallace, Johnson, and Perrott (Wellington); Hoslett and Schofield (Otago); Bates and Prior (Hawke's Bay); Doig and Davies (Wanganui); Teed and Parnham (Auckland); Bonnington and Barrett (Christchurch); Baillie and Eaton (W-airaTapa). Mr. C. A. Whiteford, of Blenheim, was to have been present as a delegate, but owing to the death of his father he was unable to attend. The conference passed : a vote of condolence with him. President's Address. The president, in reviewing the work done since last conference, said the subject i .had occupied most attention on the part of the executive was the Poisons Act, and deputations had waited upon the authorities in connection with the matter. The old Act, which dated from 1871, had no doubt served a good purpose, but was inadequate foT presentday requirements. A "poisons schedule" on the lines of the English one had been submitted. Owing to the * pressure' o? Parliamentary business and the departure of Dr. Mason from the Dominion, the matter had been left in abeyance, but it was again on the order paper, and it w<ls hoped tho Government' would be given a good lead.

An Auckland request had been received desiring .an advisory 1 board for the AntiQuackery Bill, but this did not. meet with the approval 'Of others, and the idea was dropped. A letter was received from the Chief Health Officer in regard to hospital apprentices being allowed to sit for the Pharmacy Board examinations, but after consulting the associations, the opinion arrived at whs that hospital work did not afford the necessary training, and an answer to that effect was sent to the Chief Health Officcr. The association had been invited to ioin in forming a permanent Pharmaceutical Association for Australasia. The reply was that, while the association appreciated tho courtesy, they could not go further until the question of affiliation had been discussed. In conclusion, the president thanked the secretary and- the executivefor their work.

Sale of Poisons. ' Mr.. F. Castle (Wellington) introduced the.subject of amendments to the Poisons Act. He claimed that the present law was a blot on the Statute Book. In no other country was the question of technical knowledge on the part of the vendor so completely ignored. Eo sort of qualification was required for the sale of arsenic,. strychnine, belladonna, and powerful narcotics like opium, morphia, etc. After alluding to previous efforts to get the law amended, the speaker emphasised the necessity of unanimity among chemists if they would secure any definite results. Ho first proposed. that poison law should be controlled by the . Public Health Department. He. knew that many chemists were strongly in favour of Pharmacy Hoard control, and their only real reason for that opinion was that tho subject was too technical for a State Department. lto contended, however, thai there was nothing to prevent the Government employing experts. An objection*to control by the board was that tho members were themselves 'interested in tho sale of poisons, and would, therefore, not bo trusted by the public to carry out the duties impartially. Ho moved that th*> Poisons Act 'should be administered by tho Public Health Department. Mr. Haillie (U'airarapa) seconded the motion. Ho submitted that the ccst of administration would bo too groat for-itho. board. At least two inspectors one for eacli Island, would bo required, at a cost of at kast .£SOO per annum, and the income from a ss. registration fee impgsed on 500 chemists and twice as many storekeepers would be inadequate. State Control Agreed To. Mr. Haslett (Otago) argued in favour of administration by the Pharmacy Board, and quoted English and Australian practice as a precedent. The board would give the business closer attention than any Government. Department. Tho difficulty as to cost was not insuperable. In regard to inspectors, every, chemist would act as an inspector in his own district.

Mr. Hobson (Wellington) suggested that the Government might be asked to get somo chemist of standing to act \ with them in the mailer. 1

After further discussion the motion was amended so as to mako it an expression of opinion in favoflr of control by tho Government, 110 Department being specified. 1 The motion was carried. A motion to the effect that all regulations under tho Act should be submitted to the Pharmacy Board before being gazetted was passed without discussion. Who Shall Sell Poisons? Mr. Castlo nest urged that under present conditions, which allowed any person to take 'out a license to sell oven the most dangerous" poisons, there was no adequate protection' for the public; The right to sell dangerous poisons should bo restricted to men who haa been trained to, handle them. The technical knowledge of chemists had often enabled them to prevent seriously excessive doses of medicine being taken. At present medicines containing poisons, when prescribed by doctors, could only be by registered chemists, but the same 1 poisons, when not prescribed, could bo sold by unqualified persons. His suggestion, therefore, was that chemists' licenses should be issued for, the sale of tho potent poisons which wero mainly used internally, and that poisons used for agricultural, pastoral, horticultural, and photographic purposes should bo saleable tinder licenses which could be issued to storekeepers. , Motions embodying, the above suggestions as to licenses w = ra adopted. It was resolved that license? should be. issued to registered chemists on application, and that a fee of 10s. should be charged for storekeepers' licenses, renewable every two years. ' It was further resolved that _storekeepers should only sell poisons in packages as received by them. Other details were settled and the discussion was adjourned until this afternoon. ' PHARMACY BOARD. A BILL TO BE PROMOTED. Members'of the New Zealand Pharmacy Board met in Wellington yesterday, Mr. P. Castle (president) being in'the chair. Delegates present were: Messrs. D. Teed and Parnham (Auckland), Bonnington ami Barrett (Christchurch), Haslett and Schofield (Dunedin), Castle, Baillie, Hobson, and Bagley (Wellington). Tho meeting discussed and agreed upon alterations iii the system of examinations with a view of making future tests more thorough and efficient. A recent decision in a- case in which tho board was prosecuted indicated tho necessity of amendments in the pharmacy law, and these wero discussed at considerable length with a view to framing a Bill to bo laid before Parliament next session. ' Tho board will sit again to-day.