GENERAL TELEGRAMS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 396, 23 May 1910, Page 5

GENERAL TELEGRAMS

CROWN LAW OFFICE. | By Telegraph —Press Association. j Wellington, May 21. 1 'At a meeting of Cabinet it was decided to appoint Mr. Thomas Neave,' barrister, of Wellington, as one of the assistant law officers of the Crown. I The Government has decided that all | work of the Crown in Wellington shall' he performed by the Crown Law Office.] The Minister of Justice considers this will result in a considerable saving with-| out in any way impairing the efl'ieiencyj of the legal work of the Crown. THE PRICE OF FOOTWEAR. Dunedin, May 21. The retail boot merchants have been advised that there will be a substantial' increase in the price of boots and shoes in the near future. It is a noteworthy fact that in nine years the price of hides has increased from 3d per lb. to Bd. THE USE OF OPIUM. Wellington, May 21. J A deputation representing the AntiOpium League waited on the Hon.' Mr. Fowlds to-day to protest against the sale of opium by chemists to Ohi-' nese in the form of tincture. The Rev. 1 Mr. North said the Chinese by a simple 'process converted the tincture into smoking opium. The sale was easy and unrestricted. It was used by 25 per cent, of the Chinese population. He hoped legislation would be introduced to prevent such a contravention of the purposes of the Act. The Minister recognised the position, and sympathised with the deputation. He stated legislation would he difficult in order to prevent r>n undue harrassing of chemists in the legitimate use of opium in the form of cough mixtures, pills, etc. The Department would do its best to suggest legislation, provided no honest chemist was impeded in the pursuit of his legitimate business.