DRUGS IN AUCKLAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 479, 8 October 1928, Page 14

DRUGS IN AUCKLAND

METHODIST MINISTER’S INDICTMENT “VERY WIDE TRAFFIC” “There is a very wide traffic ir drugs in this city,” said the Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour, Methodist City Miesioner, speaking at the Methodist Central Mission last evening. “The idea is prevalent,” continued Mr. Scrimgeour, “that there is very little drug-taking here. We hear of it in connection with places like Sydney, but we do not associate the traffic with Auckland.” The speaker went on to detail the conclusions he had arrived at after 12 months’ investigation. He said that the drug addicts were of all nationalities and of no definite social circle. He had found no evidence of the traffic in society circles, but it generally happened that if a respectable man cultivated the habit he descended rapidly until he lost all respectability. Mr. Scrimgeour mentioned a few cases which had come under his notice. He said that one evening a man had come to his house and fallen in a heap on his doorstep. The man had taken practically every drug known to science and even after a week’s treatment the effect had hardly worn off. Regarding drinking by girls, which was often referred to as “drugging,” the speaker said the pernicious habit generally began with the introduction of claret-cup at dances and parties. Very often the so-called claret-cup contained two-thirds proof spirit- At a recent function he had attended eight bottles of brandy and whisky had been ordered for the claret-cup.