CHEMISTS AND WINES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18022, 22 February 1922, Page 8

CHEMISTS AND WINES.

SALES IN NO-LICENSE AREAS.

DESIRE FOR AMENDED ACT.

The conditions governing the sale by chemists of medicated wines in no-license districts gave me to considerable discussion at the conference of the New Zealand Pharmaceutical Society yesterday.

The report of the Chemists' Defence Association, Ltd., stated that the association had pointed out to the Prime Minister the anomalies that existed in the present law, and had suggested that the best way out of the difficulty would be to standardise all medicated wines by the addition of a specified quantity of some medicament, which would rendfii' them unfit for us© as a beverage, as was done in England, The association contended that there could be 110 objection to the sale of these wines _ by chemists only, under the same conditions in license and no-license districts, but the AttorneyGeneral stated that he could not advise Cabinet to approve any such amendment. Several speakers urged that further action should bo taken in regard to the standardisation of medicated wines. Some delegates said it. was undesirable that chemists should handle liquor, which would always be a source of trouble. One delegate stated that 'since the correspondence had taken place the Prime Minister had promised to reconsider the matter, and that in all probability it would be among the points to _ba oon> sidered by the committee appointed to revise the licensing law. The president, Mr, F. Castle, suggested that the executivo should approach the Parliamentary Committee and present its view in favour of standarilisßtion. He nreed opposition to any regulations that would permit medicated wines tn be snld winticnllv in beverage form. The addition of a quantity of quinine, for example. rendered them practically unfit for consumption as a beverage. It was decided to endorse the action of the association and the proposal to again bring the matter before the Government was approved.