CHEMISTS CONFER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18021, 21 February 1922, Page 8

CHEMISTS CONFER.

PHARMACEUTICAL 80CIETY.

MAYOR WELCOMES DELEGATES. The fourth annual conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand ppened in the Chamber of Commerce last evening. The Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, officially welcomed the visiting delegates. Mr. F. Carson, of Wellington, chairman of the Pharmacy Board and ex-officio chairman of the conference, delivered an nddress. Mr. E. Smith, chairman of Hie Auckland committee, presided. Delegates from Canterbury, Wellington, Otago, Hawked Bay, and Manawatu were present. Mr. Gunßon, on behalf of the citiaens, welcomed the delegates. He remarked that while this was the fourth annual conference it. was, the first held in Auckland. The iiociety had a Dominion membership of over 600, of whom Auckland furnished 80. The objects of the conference, tho advancement and enhanced prestige of the profession, appeared to him highly laudable. But it had also to be remembered that coupled with that were considerations of public good, which raised it to an even higher plane. He gave a special word of welcomo to the chairman, Mr. Carson, especially as a representative of the Wellington Hospital Board. Hoed For High Objective.

Mr. Carson acknowledged the welcome on behalf of the society. He agreed with the Mayot in the need for a high I objective for the society. They should aim not only to do their best for their profession, but also to undertake the highest duties of citizenship. High powers wore wielded by the Pharmacy Board. It conducted examinations, looked after the interests of pharmacists, was em--1 powered to enter into reciprocal relations '• with Australia, and also had statutory powor to institute prosecutions for breaches of the law. It had the right to &sk for an Order-in-Council striking off | the register any chemist convicted of an I offence against the law. That was an important power, bu,t he suggested that the board should have the right to move against a man for unprofessional conduct, whether convicted in Court or not. Medical men had that right, and he suggested the conference night move to obtain similar power. The conferences had evolved u code of ethics to govern relations toward the medical profession and the public. It already had been of great value, particularly among tho younger members of the profension. One or two matters in connection with it needed further consideration, particularly the practice of assuming the title of consulting chemist. Principal Subjects on Agenda. Ilia principal subjects on the agenda paper were . Education Organisation, Poisons, arid the Pharmacy Act in its legal and commercial aspects. The question of education had engaged the attention of the board and the society for many years. ' There had been sevetal suggestions made; one was for a school of pharwary, to which Wellington, Auckland and Dunedin had already made claims. One only could be effidentlv conducted in New Zealand, which was an important point. Another suggestion was that university teaching should be accepted. For chemistry and botany the university provided classes, but not altogether on the lines needed. There wsis no # teaching in materia medica and practical pharmacy to be had from the university, however. Were a school established in Wellington, it would mean compulsory attendance there by students for at least one year. However, he hoped that, as only one school could be established, it would, be recognised that Wellington was the pkee for it. Education was a matter of vital importance to the members of the society themselves. Pharmacy had been made a separate'branch of the healing art about 100 years ago._ Since that time the status of the profession had not been improved as it might. He felt that it was time that the whole curriculum should be overhauled and brought up te date. The poison law was 50 years old, and for 35 years the chemists had b6cn trying to have it brought up to date. New Zealand was far behind other countries in that respect, particularly the other portions of the Empire, as soon as any proposals for reform were made, the farming community feared that ft would involve higher prices for poisons.used in farming, and so the opposition gathered. Mr. Cargon concluded Dy expressing the hope that the conference would' be a great success, from both the business and social viewpoints.