SALE OF POISONS

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 4, 5 July 1922, Page 6

SALE OF POISONS

10 THE EDITOR. Sir, — In 1912 an Order-in-Council was gazetted making it an offence to sell any homologue of carbolic acid containing more than 3 per cent, without the signature of the purchaser. This is the regulation on which a recent conviction against a chemist was based, and the Magistrate's Court saw fitjto convict, with an explanation to the effect that the poison purchased by the woman who committed suicide was the best known and more deadly in effect. To ub chemists this is well known, but there are others, such as , which runs it cloße, and are sold very freely. As you know, the name of poisons used in suicide oaßes is never published, and this has been the case now for many years, so that the Magistrate's contention hardly holds good as to publicity. , When the regulation was passed a deputation of chemists waited upon the Health Department (who framed the amendments), and after discussion with the Department offioials the opinion was expressed that the regulation was too drastic, and could not be enforced, and that chemists need not have sales signed ■ for. As the regulation stands at present, everyday disinfectants (if of any value) must be signed for, and we chemists cannot see why we Bhould be specially selected in the matter of these sales when we sell but a very small part of the total of such sales. The Magistrate stated £nat the poison the woman purchased could not be bought without signature at storeß. This was supported by the Sub-Inspector of Police,' and on the same day I purchased, and hold the bottles here, _ —- sold by stores without any. restriction whatever It is well known that the poisons law generally is so archaic that it is no longer practicable, and a lot is left to the discretion of the Magistrate in theso convictions. It may not be ijone- ': rally known that disinfectants are freely sold in "nip" bottles, and often hawked from door to door If the regulation is to be enforced in the one instinre. then ths police must also enforce th« section fully, and see that evf»rv sale of disiTifprt-' ant is nroperly sifrnftd for. Every sale by other than registered poison vendors is an offence, ana chemists alone should not have to submit to n particular rogulntinn which in- impracticable! as applied to the present Poisons Act.—l.am. etc., ■ J. C. BURBERY, Chairman Cheimsts' Defence Association , of New Zealand. 4th July.