16

[j. M. MASON.

1.—14.

64. Which are the bits that oould be pared off, or would do the least harm? What do you consider the most important principle in the Bill? —I think the prohibition of the sale of medicaments by other than registered persons is the most important one. 65. You consider the most important part of the Bill is that providing that certificated people only shall be allowed to sell?— Yes, looking more especially to the effect on abortion medicines. If we could fine a man £50 for selling an article, and not have to prove he was selling a certain specific, it would be effective. 66. He not having a certificate? That is clause s?—Yes. 67. Do you consider that more important than clause 7?— No; but this goes further than the Postal Act. * The Postal Act only prohibits the advertising of a treatment for sexual ailments. This goes much further. 68. This differs from the Postal Act?— Yes. Under the Postal Act unless a man advertises a treatment for sexual debility you cannot get at him. Under this Bill any person offering to treat any disease would be liable, unless he first gets a certificate. 69. Is this the part you consider perhaps not politic?— Yes. I should like to see it go through, but I know there will be" mighty opposition to it, and pressure brought to bear by outsiders with regard to it. 70. There are only two main principles in the Bill, the certificate and the advertising?— Yes, that is all. With regard to section 2, I would not have any herbalist on the Board, because there would be no common ground upon which he and the medical men could meet to discuss matters. Every medical man would oppose that. If, on the other hand, you put a wholesale seller of medicines on it you would safeguard all interests. You have to remember that the herbalist sells Cherry Pectoral and all similar things. 71. Are the newspapers doing all that one might expect of them in the way of stopping these advertisements? —Yes, the principal ones, but the country papers I have not come to any understanding with, and I think that unless legislation is brought in they will not stop these advertisements, because they depend upon them for revenue. 72. Do you suggest legislation? —Yes; the owners of the leading papers have already agreed. 73. Do you think it would be a serious matter for the country papers? —Yes, I think it is a 74. How do you propose to get over it if it is a serious thing to country papers?— The country newspapers contain a large number of these advertisements, but I have made inquiries and find that many are " dummies " —that is, they continue to publish the advertisement long after the man has ceased to pay for it. The newspaper people get a block advertisement and let it remain in the paper. I remember a whole column that went in for nearly two years and was not paid for. Many of the patent-medicine people send a block out, and it is shifted every three months. The proprietor of the paper may be notified to take it out, but he continues to print it. 75. Have you anything to say by way of suggestion? —No. I certainly think the country papers should not be "allowed to publish these advertisements, because it is in the country that nine-tenths of these people find their patients; and it is in the country, where the boy leading a secluded life is not generally so smart as the town boy, that the money comes from. 76. Although you think it would be a considerable strain on the country newspapers you think it should be done ?—Yes. 77. Even if it should shut the paper up altogether? —I do not think it would do that. 78 What about the imported newspaper: is it clean in that respect?— No. 79 What do you suggest can be done?— That is a big order, because if you take any of the monthly magazines you will find the first half-dozen or more pages consisting of advertisements about such things as the Magic Footpad, or some method of extension to make a short man tall, &c These are mostly frauds, but Ido not think much harm is done by them to our people. A man thinks twice before he writes to America for such things. The danger of these people coming into contact with a New-Zealander is not great. The nearest place for these things is Sydney; although there is one firm— Dorey Lester, of London —that sends out beautiful catalogues of watches, and yet when the money is sent Home no watch is ever sent. 80. Can you give us other cases which affect the health of the community?—l do not know 81. Take the Sydney Bulletin ?—Yes, that contains a large number of advertisements which, if they appeared in New "Zealand papers, would be stopped. 82 They would have to print a special set of advertisements for us?—lhey printed a special set for Queensland, I believe, because the Government would not allow the other advertisements to come in. , ~ , . 83 Do you suggest that all the other papers that come in should be compelled to contain special advertisements?— Yes, Ido not see any reason why they should not. 84. If we clean our own papers, would not the others be flooded with such advertisements?— No doubt. „ T , 85 What use would it be to clean our own papers and not the outside ones i — l suggest that we should make them all clean, but less than that would do good. It is the country papers' advertisements and the papers which circulate in the country districts which do the harm 86. But suppose we clean the country paper and let the Bulletin come in?—lt should not be allowed to come in as it is if we clean our own. 87 Is it any use cleaning the country papers and not those from outside? —I thmk it would be of some value. I should have no hesitation in saying that the Bulletin should not come in with the advertisements it has. What I had in my mind were the Home magazines, such as the Strand and Pearson's, and that type of magazine. - ■ . . - 88 Do you mean to say that the Strand and magazines of that kind nave such advertisements 7 y es . appeals to thin-busted women and silly old men. 1 have read those magazines, and found that nearly all contain such advertisements.