PRICES OF DRUGS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 43, 15 November 1918, Page 6

PRICES OF DRUGS

A CHEMIST REPLIES TO POLITICIANS. Mr Len M'Kenzie, chemist, and a member of tho City Council, made the following statement iu reply to the aspersions that have been cast on _ chemists generally by members of Parliament from their places in the House-.-"It is a piiy that members ol Parliament do not give more thought to their public utterances about the epidemic before making them. They should remember that during Wie present, crisis chemists, wholesale and retail, are all working day and night to meet the requirements of the hour. If a shortage of essential drugs arises it has been caused by the Government in not matin" the quantities obtainable under license (which the Imperial Government decrees) largo enough for our requirements. There is, for example, a serious 'shortage of medicated lozenges, .put up, for the most part, in Australia, caused absolutely by tho shortage of sugar supplies from which to make them. As to uieiuists making large prifirs, thoasp?ision was entirely unwarranted, and members should ascertain the increased cost of the drugs before 'casting loose reflections born of ignorance. Instead of that being the case the chemists deserved praiso on all sides for the work they aro doing under great stress. Already two chemists in Wellington have died and others are suffering shortages in staff from the epidemic, as is the general community. It is a great pity that a large .place like Petone should be without a pharmacy, but that, was brought about by both pharmacists there bein ; laid up 'with inffuenza. The Government is greatly to "blame for depriving the public of the services of men who would be of the greatest value lo the community at the present time. There aro men (chemists) in the Amipiini Camp, who have not yet been released to take up their work—and yet a general armistice has been signed! It would be far'better if those members of Parliament who have done so litd'.e should do something practical, instead of indulging in' loose and hurtful reflections on those who are in the fightingline."

As to the prices of drugs, Mr. M'lCenzie stated that Mie drugs most needed in the present, crisis were the dearest owing to their beini; tlie scarcest on the world's market. Those were salicylate of soda, nuinine, aspirin, anti-pyrene, and phenacetin. • .