"NOTHING IN IT"

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 136, 9 June 1926, Page 10

"NOTHING IN IT"

THE DRUG RING STORY

AUCKLAND DENIES THE CHARGE

FEW INQUIRIES AMONG CHEMISTS. ■

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, This-Day.

TUe alleged existences in Now Zealand of secret organisations composed of youths of both sexes for the purpose of distributing drugs for immoral purposes is scouted by several representative Aucklanders. "I don't suppose there is anyone in this city more closely ill touch with what one might call the underworjd than myself, and I can say emphatically that nothing has come under my notice to lead me to believe what this Salvation Army colonel asserts," said the Eev. Jasper Galder, Anglican City Missioner. "This looks to me like exaggeration. Possibly the colonel has been led to mako this statement without any first-hand knowledge. He had been in the country only four months. I'm pretty sure that if any secret society existed I'd have some knowledge of it. There are a few drug addicts in this town, lout they are all known, poor souls, and they are harming nobody but themselves." Mr. Calder said it was wcl! known that some girls, when they got into trouble, said they had been drugged, but when they knew they would be helped, usually admitted that they had made up the story, and that they had taken liquor of some sort. Staff Captain Davies, Salvation. Army Police Court and gaol Samaritan worker, admitted that he could not speak on the subject at first liana. He dealt with hundreds of cases among men, but could hot mention one where young men had fallen through drugs. At the samo time, he had reason to believe that there was some truth in the allegations made by the chief secretary. "CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SMUGGLING." A city chemist said that he did not remember ever having had a request for narcotics from young people. Twenty years ago, before the regulations with regard to drugs were tightened up, the position was somewhat different. In those days drugs were asked for more frequently. To-day chemists never supplied drugs unless a doctor's prescription was produced. "I know that there is a certain amount of smuggling going on in connection with the Auckland-Suva trade, and a small quantity of cocaine finds its way into New Zealand through that channel." Another chemist, asked if he thought that tho smugglers had established a secret distribution depot, said: "No, Ido not. I don't think they are clever enough for that. They are only out to get a few shillings easily. I know the class of men who carry on this sort of thing. Not long ago one of them came into my shop and offered me thirty-two small bottles of cocaine —about eight ounces. Needless to say, I. sent him about his business pretty quickly. I'll admit that there arc sevoral young people in Auckland who are addicted to drugs, but their numbers are small. Speaking offhand, I suppose we have about ten inquiries in a month —not more. Some of those who want drugs appear to have pulled themselves together lately, as they have not been bothering us. We have to be very careful, as we can give drugs only when a doctor's prescription is tendered. I have known drug addicts to be very cunning; they will proffer faked prescriptions, some of which are rather difficult to detect. Others ask for eyedrops, in order to get a solution containing a small quantity of cocaine. Others say they want the drug so that they may extract a tooth, and they will go so far as to display the instrument with which they are going to perform the operation. Of course, such inquiries get no satisfaction here. PHARMACY BOARD KNOWS NOTHING. A third chemist, Mr. E. Smith, remarked: "As a member of the Pharmacy Board of New Zealand, I can say that there appears to be no foundation in fact for what has been said in Christchurch. Colonel Knott has been in New Zealand for only four months, yet he has apparently discovered more in that time than the Pharmacy Board has discovered in four years. The whole thing appears to mo to be quite unreasonable. It seems unreasonable to suggest that a man would use a druc when liquor would produce tho same effect. As for .opt>d chocolates or cigarettes, well, what are they doped with?. There may be such things on the market, but no regi^ered chemist would handle them. Personally, I have no inquiries for drugs by young people. There are old drug addicts who are well known to everyone, but they are not the type that would be associated with a vicious secret organisation such as that suggested.

(To tut Editor.) gj r i have the honour of addressing you, soliciting you to have the kindness to rectify the incorrect opinion stated by the Chief Detective in Dunedm concerning drug addicts, when he says, "Somebody has been telling a tale, and he might be confusing us with Buenos Aires." Buenos Aires has gained the eulogies of great medical celebrities or the world for its hygiene and public health, and occupies the sixth place in the world for population. It is second to none for its indications of civilisation and culture. The statistics for 1925 show that the growing increase (the difference of birth rate and mortality) is higher in Buenos Aires than in any European nation, and than in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, where it has been 16.6 per 1000, 14.4 per 1000, and 13.9 per 1000 respectively, whereas in Buenos Aires it was 18.12 per 1000. The Argentine police has merited the eulogy of tlio last Police Congress held in U.S.A., on account of its marvellous technical organisation. Argentina signed the Convention of Geneva about two years ago against drugs, and if any foreign person should sell drugs he would bo arrested and punished, since the police have authority to eradicate the sale of any poison or noxious drug. It is a surprise to me that a representative of the police of Dunedm should have particularised Buenos Aires, forgetting what takeß place in the great capitals of Europe, whence those drugs come. I have for the people of New Zealand a great liking and admiration, so that (though comparisons are unjust) I may be permitted to make comparisons; but I maintain that the mission of the police is in the realm of peace, and that no law or treaty authorises its representatives to interfere with the social life of a nation which maintain*1 with all the world the most cordial official, political, and commercial relations, and which, if it has anything to learn, yet is able to teach a great deal. Argentiue courtesy consists in quoting foreign countries only for the purpose of praising what is good, since to criticise the bad its native sons are sufficient. —I am, etc., HUMBERTO BIDONE, Consul-General of the Argentine Republic. 9th June.