DEARTH OF ASSISTANTS. STRATFORD’S MAYORALTY. THE DRUG HABIT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 98, 25 April 1912, Page 4

DEARTH OF ASSISTANTS.

STRATFORD’S MAYORALTY.

THE DRUG HABIT.

It is rather surprising to learn that to-day hundreds of shops in London, large and small, are many short of their i'ulf complement of assistants, and employers are experiencing die greatest difficulty in filling vacancies. A leading traveller of a St. Pant’s Churchyard linn informed a representation of the “Pall 31a.1l Cassette Liai whereas it was no uncommon thing tor

him to have the names of fifty assistants on his books anxious to obtain employment, lie had not one at the present time, and shopkeepers mane frequent appeals to him to help in finding suitable employees. ise >' c " suit has been that assistants are find-

ing that many regulations which were enforced are being relaxed and marry assistants are permitted to “live out,’ a change long advocated on their behalf. There is no immediate prospect of any change in the position, ard it is stated that shopkeepers are looking ahead with some anxiety.'

Mr W. P. .Kirkwood’s very, handsome majority in the polling tor t.u' Siralford Mayoralty yesteiday may ho taken as an indication of t'ne regard in which ho is held, and of support for tlio moderate and progressive policy which he advocates. V* o heart-' ily congratulate him upon his victory and trust lie may worthily til! the ollico with credit to himself and to the town. The election contest wa; a cleanly-fought one, and though had weather doubtless deterred many Irani voting, the polling was quite up to expectations. Sir McAllister war doubtless disappointed in the support accorded him, but took his defeat in n manly spirit, and in ids short speech at the Town Hall last night took up a very proper attitude. Alter all, as Mr Kirkwood aptly put it, they could not both win, but there is no reason why Mr McAllister, as Councillor, and ilr Kirkwood, as Mayor, should not work well together for tin* town’s progress and welfare, and we believe they will do so. Ratepayers will look forward to an early evidence that the new Mayor’s programme is seriously meant and that he intends to take some steps to carry out improvements such as he has outlined. \v o trust he will receive the Council's loyal support, and that a good year’s work may he ahead of him.

Apparently the drug habit is not such a serious evil in Melbourne, says the “Age,” as it is in Sydney, where, in giving evidence hot ore the Pure hood Commission, Air \\. Scott, representing the Pharmaceutical Society ol New South Wales, said there ought to he a restriction on the use of hypodermic syruges and tablets, the use of which had grown to absolutely shocking proportions. He ■ advised that drugs should not bo; Supplied except on a doctor’s certificate, and then only upon the original prescription. in Melbourne towards the end of last year a complaint was made to the duel. Secretary ot \ iotoria that the use cl drugs was increasing in the State, and Mr Murray was urged to pass restrictive legislation. He referred the question to thd Pharmaceutical Society of Victoria, and the secretary, Mr W. H. Shillinglaw, replied that ho had been unable to find any justification for the statement that the morphia habit was growing in \ ictorm. The sale of morphia was safeguarded by the Poisons Act of 1890, and as it came under part 1 or the schedule : every sale had to he entered in the register of poisons and witnessed both by the seller and purchaser, in the case of prescriptions given by medical men, the prescription was the warrant upon which the morphia was supplied. No morphia was manufac- : Hired in Victoria, and the importations for medical purposes showed a ' decrease on former years. The sug- • gested amendment of the Poisons Act, 1 further restricting the sale of mor- ! phia, did not appear to the Pimr- ■ macy Board to lie necessary, as the existing law imposed heavy P cn «’>|_ £^ u ! and enabled every sale to’ ho traced: