SALE OF POISONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11255, 6 July 1922, Page 4

SALE OF POISONS

SOME GLARING ANOMALIES. HOW CHEMISTS ARE PENALISED. the Editor "N.Z. Times.") Sir, —In 1912 an Order-in-Council wan gazetted making it an offence to sell any homologuo of carbolic acid containing more than 3 per cent, without the signature of the purchaser. This is the regulation on which a recent conviction against a chemist was based, and the magistrate saw lit to convict on one alone with an explanation to the effect that it was the best known and more dorfuly in effect. To us chemists this is well known, but there are others which run it close, and are sold very freely. As you know the name of poisons used in suicidal cases are never published, and this has been the case now for many years, so that the magistrate's contention‘hardly holds good as to publicity. When the regulation was passed a deputation of diemists waited upon the Health Department (who frame the amendments), and after discussion with the department officials, the opinion was expressed (the department having received a check from vested interests) that the regulation was too drastic and could not be enforced, and that chemists need not have sales signed for. As the regulation stands at present, every day disinfectants (if of any value) must be signed for, and we chemists cannot sec why wo should be specially selected in the matter of these sales when wc sell but a very small part of the total of such sales. The magistrate stated that could not be bought at stores without signature. This was supported by the Sub-Inspector of Police, and vet, on the samerdav, I purchased and hold the bottles here of ©old by stores without any restriction whatever. It is well known that the poisons law generally is so archaic that it is no longer practicable and a lot is loft to the discretion of t.lio magistrate in these convictions. It may not be generally known that disinfectants are freclv sold in nip" bottles, and often hawked from door to door. If the regulation is to bo enforced in the one instance then tho police must also enforce the section fully and see that everr sale of disenfectant is puopcrly signed for. Every sale of disinfectants sail bv oilier than registered noison vnudors is on offence, and chemist* alone should not have to submit to a iviri r regain-! Hon which i<: imprnrticaHo ns applied, to the present Poisons Act. J. C. TU'I.'PERY, Chairman, Chemists’ Defence Association of New Zealand.