CHEMISTS' INTERESTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 838, 9 June 1910, Page 6

CHEMISTS' INTERESTS.

PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC.

OPIUM AND OTHER DRUGS

The Conference of the Now Zealand Federated Chemists concluded last night. The afternoon proceedings were in committee, but the press representatives were present in the oveniug. Mr. L. M'Konzio (Wellington) presided.

The following officers wore elected:President, Mr. L. M'Kenzio (Wellington); vice-presidents, Messrs. Woollanis (Auckland), Bonnington (Christchurch), Sckofield (Otago), Williams (Hawkc's Bay), Kitchen (Wanganui), Sykes (Taranaki), Hobson (Wellington); hon. secretary, Mr. W. S. Wallace (Wellington); hon. auditor, Mr. W. .lack (Wellington). Tho balance-sheet, which showed' a satisfactory condition of tho finances, was adopted. Opium Restrictions. Tho question of the salo of opium was opened by tho president during tho afternoon sitting, and after discussion tho following motions were carried unanimously :— "That sales of tincture of. opium by wholesale houses should be. registered under similar conditions to those governing retail sales." "That this meeting is of opinion that chemists should refuse to supply tincturo of opium to Chinese." Australasian Federation. At tho evening sitting it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. W. S. Wallace:— "That this New Zealand Federation of Chemists affiliate with the Australian Pharmaceutical Conference, and take the necessary steps to have its various requirements embodied in their formulary, when it is prepared, provided that tho expenso is not considered excessive, whou particulars are obtainable." Unqualified Drua-Sel'ers. Mr. F. Cnstlo said the Pharmacy Board had carefully considered the question of amending the Pharmacy Act. .The amendments of which tho board had approved covered a great deal, of ground. One of the most important was to bring tho Act into liuu with the British Act in regard to the sale of poisons. At present, in New Zealand, the making up of doctors' prescriptions containing potent, poisons was restricted to registered chemists, but unregistered and quite unqualified persons could handle, mix, and sell the same poisons when demanded by the public without a physician's prescription. The board considered that', under these latter circumstances, as well as the former, the public should have the protection of technical knowledge i>n the part of the vendor. The board also desired to have it made illegal for any unqualified person to call his place of business a pharmacy. The conference, by resolution, endorsed tho above proposals. For Legal Defence, Mr. Hobson (Wellington), advocated the formation of an association for defending chemists in trade cases before the Courts. He said there would probably bo more activity on tho part of Government inspectors in regard to the sale of drugs in the near future. A considerable number of harassing prosecutions might be not merely defended with success, but even prevented, by means of a strong organisation. Another object to be secured was the indemnifying of chemists in connection with mistakes in dispensing. The association could also watch proposed legislation affecting chemists and take steps in connection therein. He moved: "That this conference is agreed that the time has arrived for tho formation of a chemist's defence fund." Mr. Paniham (Auckland) seconded the motion, but did not endorse all the suggestions of the mover. The motion was carried, and the details of tho scheme were referred to the affiliated bodies. Miscellaneous. It was resolved on the motion of Mr. Doig (Wanganui): "That chemists should bo exempted from sitting on juries." An invitation to hold tho next conference at Napier was conveyed by Mr. Bates.. The matter was postponed. Tho business of the conference concluded with votes of thanks to the president and other officers and the press.