The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 1893. Poison in Food

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 150, 8 June 1893, Page 2

The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 1893. Poison in Food

It is very much to the credit of ibo Pharmacy Board in Wellington that they have taken up the question of the indiscriminate 6ale of poisons in tho colony. A Wellington telegram informs us that a deputation from that body waited on the Premier lust Tuesday and submitted to that gentleman the draft of a Pharmacy Bill which the Pharmacy Board desired the Government to pass duriug tho coming session. The Bill proposed to deal with tho whole question of the sale of drugs and poisons, also that provision be made to compell chemists who had branch establishments, to place only duly qualified men in charge of them. It was unfortunate for the fate of this really useful measure that it was not brought under the notice of Ministers before because, as Mr Seddon informed the deputation, there was so much business already in hand that the Government could not at this late date promise to bring in such a comprehensive bill as that submitted. He said however, that the Government proposed to bring in an Amending Bill entitled the Sale and Carriage of Poisons Bill, to compel the enforcement of the provisions of the existing Poisons Act, to obviate any of the poisons being mixed with food when in transit or store. That such a precautionary measure has become absolutely necessary for the protection of human life is beyond question. Within the last six months there have been placed on record too many instances where serious, if not fatal, results have followed from poison and articles of food, such as flour, and oatmeal, being placed in too familiar juxtaposition when being carried from place to place, either by sea or land conveyances. We have confidence that in completing their own Bill the Government will adopt such suggestions made in the draft Pharmacy Bill submitted to them as are compatible with their own proposals in the same connection.