“PATENT" MEDICINES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1455, 16 May 1905, Page 2

“PATENT" MEDICINES.

PROTEBT FROM THE MANUFACTURERB. ' T

J By Telegraph—Press-Assooiatlon— Copyright I Received 9.10 p.m.,- May 15. I . . Sydney, May 15. ni ~ . meeting of the Manufacturing f Chemists and Prop i tors’ Assoeimion, in. i eluding representatives of large English 6 I American, and Canadian proprietaries,' was held to protesAgjagainst the revised j I regulations issued IfVthe New Zealand ■ Government in regard to'patent and proI prietary articles. A resolution was oarI ried, ‘ That the modified regulations concerning patent medicines in New Zealand will tend to lessen tbo amount of business acme by the residents of New South Wales I with New Zealand, and this meeting proI a S ainst the same ooming into force ” j The speakers considered they would have I a serious effect on a business which had . b u e ? b . U i U CQat > and contended J that although the regulations were apparently directed against certain so-called patent medicines which were thought to

I be injurious to the community, they will affect registered and proprietary rights throughout. The chief opposition was to submitting the formula of proprietary articles to the Health Department, official the contention being that it would thereby become public property. Stress was laid on the loss of business that would result to New Zealand, the inconvenience they would oaußc people who pinned their faith

to reputable patent medicines, and the loss to newspapers through the necessary withdrawal of advertisements.

It was announced that almost every j large manufacturing firm in England and America had been communicated with and , letters of protest produced from large English and American proprietaries and repre- , sentatives, Some of these firms stated they had advised that if the regulations were put into force they would withdraw from New Zealand and advertising would have to cease. One of the speakers said the firms objeoted to be dictated to. They

would not trust the formula to any minister. Manufacturers in all parts of the world would see the trade was not big enough to take tbe risk, for there was risk in the exposure of the formula.

Some speakers, viewing wider grounds expressed the opinion that the time was' inopportune for New Zealand to adopt such legislation just when efforts were be mg made, to extend reciprocity in trade with Australia and America. Mr Clarke,' Canadian commissioner, was present in an unofficial capacity. He suggested approaching tba New Zealand Government with the view of getting a change of policy, so that while protecting the people it would not destroy the pro prietary medicine business. / . The resolution, will be forwarded to the J