FARM HAND TAKES POISON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21252, 4 August 1932, Page 12

FARM HAND TAKES POISON

COMMENT BY CORONER SALE CONDITIONS CRITICISED [from OUR OWN correspondent] MATAMATA, Wednesday Criticism of the conditions of salo of strychnine were made by Mr. A. J. Tong, coroner, at Matamata, at the conclusion of an inquest into tho death of James Park, a farm hand employed by Mr. G. Graham, of Hinuera. The evidence showed that deceased, who was 25 years of age, had come from Accrington, England, seven years ago under tho Salvation Army scheme, and recently had been working for Mr. Graham under tho unemployment relief scheme. If suitable, deceased was to have

been kept on for the milking season, but on Monday at breakfast-time, had been given notice by his employer. About noon his employer found him suffering from poisoning, and he died shortly after the arrival of tho doctor. Before he died deceased told both the police and tho doctor that he had taken tho strychnine because he had been discharged and jobs were hard to get. In returning a verdict that deceased committed suicido while in a fit of depression, the coroner remarked that be thought further restrictions should bo placed on tho sale of strychnine.' Apparently farmers could get fairly large quantities from tho Department of Agriculture rather easily and it was left lying about. Three similar suicides had occurred recently in the, district, and he fell that further restrictions should be placed on its sale, and that tho poison should be kept under lock and key on tho farm when not in uso, and not left lying about.