SALE OF POISONS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14167, 15 September 1906, Page 2

SALE OF POISONS.

[Per Press . Association-,] WELLINGTON, September 14. A deputation from the Pharmacy Board of New Zealand waited upon the Minister of Public Health, at the Parliamentary Buildings, this morning, to urge the adoption bv the Government of a Bill which it had had .prepared reforming the law affecting sales of poison®. The members representing the Board, Messrs George Mee (president), G. W. Wilton, T. Johnston, R. D. Hanlon and G. Bayley, were introduced! to the Minister by Dr Mason, Chief Health Officer. The Board’s solicitor, Mr C. W. Nielsen, who had drafted the Bill, was also in attendance. The Bill, which repeals previous enactments, provides for th© compulsory registration of all sellers of poisons, other than medical practitioners and registered chemists. The register is tp.be kept by the Pharmacy Board, and provision-is made for the annual gazetting of the register.- Poisons mentioned in the first and second part of; the schedule are subject to regulations as to sale, ami) packages containing poisons are net -allowed to be broken by licensees for purposes of sale. Morphia and preparations containing morphia, are only to be sold where included in a prescription or order of a medical practitioner known to the seller. Provision is made for the undertaking the duties of inspection and prosecution to secure enforcement of the Act. The president and Mr G.’W. Wilton, speaking for the Board, referred to (lie necessity of something being done to secure proper regulation of a matter so intimately affecting the safety and health of the public as the selling of poisons. The present Act- was a dead letter! and practically the sale of poisons was unrestricted. Mr Nielsen, in referring to the Bill, pointed out provisions that would secure proper administration andcontrol. The Minister, in reply, said that he had considered the Bill submitted, and thought it very reasonable. One point he would have to carefully consider was whether the control of the Act should be placed in the Health Department- instead of the Pharmacy Board. At present, the Colonial Secretary’s Department had charge, and that Department could not do what was necessary to obtain effective administration. He would also' have to go into the matter of the annual fee under the Act. He recognised that some change .was necessary, and an endeavour would be made ; to introduce the Bill this session. The deputation could depend upon it that : the Government would see that proper administration was secured in the Bill. '