CHEMISTS CONCERNED

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 2 November 1933, Page 7

CHEMISTS CONCERNED

AMENDED POISONS BILL

MATTER THOUGHT URGENT.

AUCKLAND, Nov. 1

The danger arising out of the sale of hynotic drugs, such as veronal and veronal compounds 1 , by unqualified persons has recently been causing grave concern to the chemists of New Zealand. The matter also lias been commented on at times by coroners and police officials, and the Pharmacy Board of New Zealand is now making strenuous efforts to have the amended Poisons Act passed by Parliament this session.

According to a statement made by Mr E. Smith, president of the Pharmacy Board, the existing Poisons Act is completely out of date. Since the war, he .said, attempts had been mailo from time to time to have it amended, but these attempts had invariably met with opposition from representatives of the fanning community, who apparently 'feared, that they would be subject to restrictions in the purchase of poisons used for the destruction of agricultural ajid horticultural pests. “With the sale of horticultural and agricultural poisons we are not concerned in the slightest,” Mr Smith said. “Any restrictions there are purely a matter for the Department of Agriculture. However, we are concerned with hypnotic drugs, and we want to inform the public that it is a matter requiring urgent attention from Parliament. “For some years now the Governmnet has regarded the question apathetically. They have told us they do not consider- it an urgent matter. Our reply is that it is a matter which may reasonably be regarded as touching the safety of the public, and we intend to do everything in our power to see that the new Poisons Bill as framed bv the Health Department becomes law this session.