TRAFFIC IN DRUGS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 163, 30 September 1927, Page 9

TRAFFIC IN DRUGS

PREVENTIVE LEGISLATION

UPHELD BY CHEMISTS

“Though there is no reason to believe that there is a serious drug habit or serious drug traffic here yet, the Dangerous Drugs Bill ■should meet with the approval of chemists.”

r - E. Smith, an Auckland member of the Pharmacy Board, made this statement to-day when asked his opinion of the Bill which was passed in the House yesterday. Exception to Clause 23 of the Bill had been taken by Mr. M. J. Savage, M.P., who declared that it was contrary to a fundamental principle of British justice in that it laid the onus of proof of innocence on the accused person.

“The Bill follows the recommendations of the Geneva Conference,” said Mr. Smith, “and is substantially the same as the Act in operation in Great Britain. It is certainly a move in the right direction, because it strengthens the restrictions on the, dangerous drugs. Most chemists have seen the provisions and agree with them. “It is much better to have a preventive measure now, before the drug evil starts, than to pass legislation afterwards.” From memory Mr. Smith said that he thought Section 23 gave the police power to arrest and search immediately suspected drug traffickers. If a man tried to procure drugs he was also liable to prosecution. But there was nothing in the measure which any reasonable person could object to. Mr. L .C. Wallace, president of the Northern Pharmaceutical Association, said: “No regulation in regard to that stuff can be too stringent.”