PROPRIETARY MEDICINES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8317, 16 May 1905, Page 4

PROPRIETARY MEDICINES.

£. A MEETING IN SYDNEY. | $>• United Press Associat^n — By Electric 0i ' Telegraph — Copyright. Pf" ' SYDNEY, May 15. fr A meeting of the Manufacturing -Chemists and Proprietors' Association, including representatives of large Engj lish, American and Canadian proprietaries, was held to protest against the revised regulations issued by the New Zealand Government with regard to patent and proprietary articles. A resolution was adopted — " That the modified regulations concerning patent medicines in New Zealand will \ _ fcond to lessen the amount of business done by residents of New South Wales \ with New Zealand. This meeting prp- , tests against the same coming into force." j\ The speakers considered that the re- |?" "gnl&tions would have a serious effect in I*-- business which had been built up at £ great cost. They contended that al- ~ though the regulations were apparently directed against certain so-called patent medicines which- were thought to be injurious to the community, they would affect registered and proprietary » rights throughout. The chief opposition, was to submitting the formula of proprietary articles to an official of the ' ' - Health Department, the contention be- ' ing that they would thereby become public property. Stress : was laid on the loss of trade that would result to New Zealand and the inconvenience to people who pinned their faith to reputable patent medicines, and the losb to newspapers through the necessary withdrawal of advertisements. It was announced that almost every large manufacturing firm in England and America had. been 1 communicated with. Letters of protest were produced from large English and American proprietaries, and representatives t>f some of these firms stated that they had been advised that if the regulations were put into force they would withdraw from New Zealand, and adVe'rtising would have to cease. One of the speakers said that the firms objected to be dictated to. They would not trust their formula to any Minister. Manufacturers in all parts af the world would see that the trade was not big enough to take the risk, for there was a risk of exposure of formula. Some speakers, viewing the matter »n wider grounds, expressed the »pinion that the tim« was inopportune ; for New Zealand to adopt such legislation just when efforts were being made i» extend reciprocity of trade with Australia and America. Mr Larke, Canadian Commissioner, who was present in an unofficial capacity, suggested approaching the New Zealand Government with ' a view to getting a change of policy, so that while protecting the people it would not destroy the proprietary medicine business. x The resolution will be forwarded to the New Zealand Government.