Chemists’ Sunday Hours

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 308, 20 March 1928, Page 8

Chemists’ Sunday Hours

Outcry Against New Regulations

More General Trade than Urgent Calls

IF all chemists' shops in Auckland were closed cn Sundays, leaving only an all-day and all-night dispensary open for the making-up of urgent prescriptions, the public of Auckland would be far better served.

THIS vas the opinion voiced by several Auckland chemists this morning on the question of closing chemists’ shops from 9 o’clock on Saturday night until the usual hour on Monday morning.

At present it is contended that much inconvenience results to the general public from the present unsatisfactory "go-as-you-please” conditions which allow chemists to open or not as they see fit, With the bringing into force of the regulations, requisitioned by 60 of th£

SO-odd chemists of Auckland, the AllNight Pharmacy will open whenever the chemist shops close. At present it is contended that those really in need of medicine waste unnecessary time in seeking a chemist shop which happens to be open. This pharmacy, it was emphasised, is on a tram route, easily accessible from all parts of the city, and is on the telephone.

The question of urgent prescriptions was discussed by another chemist who has had experience in attending at the All-Night Dispensary. He found that even there the number of urgent prescriptions dispensed was comparatively small. “The chemists.” he said, "at present open or not on Sundays just as they pleased, and for the sale of anything and everything.” He was strongly of the opinion that if they were restric-; ted on Sundays to the sale of urgent medicine only very few would open their shops. “Generally speaking. Sunday trade was an every-day trade, lozenges and slightly medicated jubes being in strong demand. Camera films were also sought on Sundays, but these, chemists were not supposed to supply. Fully 98 per cent, of the articles sold were not urgent necessities and could conveniently be purchased on a week-day. If we were dispensing urgent medicine on Sundays we would ; have no right to ask for Sunday closing, he added. PRESENT HOURS PERPLEXING j “There was a similar outcry from a few chemists when the closing hour was altered to 6 o’clock.” stated the proprietor of a city pharmacy. Previously chemists had kept open till 8 o’clock, but the change made little ' difference. The chemists established an all-night pharmacy, and those who really needed medicine at night had no difficulty in obtaining id He also pointed out that all doctors carry in their hypodermic cases most of the important and necessary tablets, sufficient for any emergency. Also, doctors knew of the All-Night Dispensary and could direct their patients where to send their prescriptions. At the present time there were few complaints in connection with the closing of the shops two hours earlier, and they had yet to learn of any serious consequences resulting from that change. It was the opinion of 60 chemists, he said, that, instead of the present perplexity and uncertainty over the hours of chemists’ shops on Sunday, definite regulations and an assured source for the supply of urgent medicine would constitute a wise and progressive move.