POISONS ACT

Otago Witness, Issue 3335, 13 February 1918, Page 6

POISONS ACT

'NECESSITY FOE, FRESH LEGISLATION. A deputation from the New Zealand Pharmacy Board waited upon the Minister of Internal Affairs on the sth, and urged on him the importance of certain amendments being made in the Poisons Act. It was stated that the Pharmacy Board was unanimously of opinion that the law required bringing up- to date, tire existing statute being some 40 years old. The Poisons Act was intended to protect the public, yet tho schedule of the statute did not contain the names of some poisons which ought to be in it, and these poisons could be sold by anyone without any restrictions. Not only was .the schedule incomplete, but it was confusing. The Pharmacy Board was of opinion, that the administration of the Act should be in the hands of the Health Department. The board also considered that the control of vendors was inadequate. The Minister asked whether tho deputation .could give any cases where clearly improper persons had been registered. Mr J. Castle pointed out that the list contained the name of a grocery company. Ho did not think it right that a firm of that description should be given a license to sell all poisons. The Minister said that the firm mentioned was handling groceries and so on. Ho was thinking more particularly of places like Taumarunui and Taihape, and in country districts. The Minister said that he took it that the underlying objection,- which the deputation wished to make clear was that grocers and others were allowed to sell classes of goods which, in ihe opinion of the Pharmacy Board, should be confined to chemists and people having special knowledge. Mr Castle said that was really the bedrock of the whole matter, although tho Pharmacy Board did not wish to see the sale of poisons confined entirely to chemists. They did think, however, that the more potent poisons should be handled only, by' people with special knowledge. They did not think unqualified persons should be able to purchase poisons in bulk, mix them, and make a marketable article. In the course of his reply, the Minister said, with regard to the main point, which was'the most important and related to tho Apt being out of date, it was' provided that the Governor could from time to time by Order-in-Council declare that any article should be deemed a poison. „Thore was, therefore, power for the Government to bring the law up to date. He would hare the point looked into, and according to tho advice of experts would be prepared to add to the schedulo whatever poisons they recommended should •be so added. _ As to tho suggestion- of legislation , he wished to say that he was quite satisfied that an Act which had been so long on the Statute Book was antique, and was probably in some respects obsolete. He would have tho legislation of other countries, particularly Great Britain, Australia, and perhaps tho United States, turned up, in order that any new legislation for New Zealand might bo drafted on up-to-date lines. He was afraid, however, that it would be quite impossible to bring forward fresh legislation except of a very urgent nature until tho war was over. But ho would nave the Act overhauled, and if he could clear up the position he would certainly do so ; lne question of incompetent persons being al lowed to compound would also be looked into with a view to seeing whether anything could bo done.