SALE OF POISONS

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 2, 3 July 1922, Page 3

SALE OF POISONS

TO..THE 8D110R... „ „..,„.„„ „ , ''- Sir, —In the .proceedings at the Magistrate's Court,, reported ,in your issue of yesterday, it was stated /by the police that certain kinds off poisons were .not sold by storekeepers, and a chemist was fined for selling without obtaining the buyer's. name. . To prove how mistaken this attitude is, a call was made forthwith at many of ..the stores in the city and suburbs, with the result that four bottles of l poison referred to,1 were purchased, and receipts obtained at as many different shops, without any restrictions whatever, and without any .inquiry 'as to the purchaser's name. : * The Pharmacy Board has been trying to arouse public interest with regard <to the inadequate Poisons Law of this country ; and it is ** hoped that ■ this :case may help to draw1 attention to an Act which has long been ridiculously inadequate. Many of the most deadly poison^ are of comparatively recent discovery, and these, .under the existing Poisons. Law of/New Zealand, may he sold freely by anyone,. because, the Act does not name them.

A new Poisons Bill, based on the best models of the other countries, was submitted to the Government last year; but the Pharmacy Board was informed that it could not be proceeded with since it was of a controversial nature. Surely, in view of' the very, real danger, the Bill should -be taken up without further delay: and if the case under discussion has the effect of opening the eye of the, public, it will have been well worth while.—lam, etc., E. C. CACHEMAILLE, 1 Registrar, Pharmacy Board. Ist July. '