10 
THE AU S TEAL A SIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. 
SYNOPSIS OF THE PHARMACY ACTS OF THE AUSTRALASIAN 
COLONIES. 
In view of the Intercolonial Pharmaceutical Conference which it is proposed to hold in 
Sydney in September next, it may be interesting to compare the legislation on pharmacy 
which at the present time exists in the various colonies. 
New Zealand, Queensland, and Victoria are the only colonies that have Pharmacy 
Acts pure and simple. In New South Wales and Tasmania Acts regulating the sale 
of poisons are in operation, but they do not in any way deal with pharmaceutical 
education. 
Part I. . of the Acts of Victoria, New Zealand, and Queensland are nearly 
transcripts of each other, and the title pharmaceutical chemist being in each instance 
adopted. 
The first boards were all nominated by” the Governor-in-Council, and in each 
instance are composed of seven members. The term of office in New Zealand and 
Queensland is three years, but in Victoria this has been found not to work well, and an 
amendment was made about two years ago which provides that two members retire every 
year. The members who retire first are those^who, at the election of the board, 
received the fewest number of votes. 
Part II., which, in the first clauses, deals with the issue of the Register of 
Pharmaceutical Chemists, is almost identical, and the same scale of fees is also adopted 
in all the colonies. It is not until we come to the section providing for disqualification 
that any important amendment is made. In the Victorian and New Zealand Acts this 
clause states — “That if any registered pharmaceutical chemist be convicted of any 
offence under this Act which, in the opinion of the board, renders him unfit to be on 
the Pharmaceutical Register, the board may, subject to the approval of the Governor-in- 
Council, order the name of such person to be erased.” Had, however, the framers of 
the Victorian Act the experience they now have, this clause would, no doubt, have been 
amended to that adopted by Queensland, where the words “ under this Act ” are omitted 
from the section. Thus, under the Victorian Act a person may be convicted of a criminal 
offence and sentenced to imprisonment, but unless such offence comes under Subdivisions 
1 to 4 of Section 25, the board are unable to prosecute for an offence against the 
Pharmacy Act, and, consequently, cannot erase the name. 
The educational portions of the Acts are in Part III., and all differ most materially. 
The Victorian Act requires a preliminary examination before apprenticeship, which must 
then be for four years. In New Zealand and Queensland no preliminary examination 
exists ; the former requires no apprenticeship, and the latter three years. It is in the 
assimilation of Part III. that great difficulty is likely to arise, the preliminary examina- 
tion before apprenticeship being the bete noir . The Victorian Act also provides that the 
apprentice must attend, at some recognised school or college, one course of lectures, and 
pass examinations in materia medica, botany, and practical chemistry before lie can 
present himself for the final or practical pharmacy examination. The wording of this 
section in the New Zealand and Queensland Acts are identical, and state that 
“ The board shall examine all persons who shall present themselves for examination as 
to their knowledge of the Latin language, botany and materia medica, pharmaceutical 
and general chemistry.” Practical pharmacy is also specified by Queensland, but not by 
New Zealand. 
The clauses referring to the registration of persons who were in business or 
assistants in the several colonies before the passing of the Acts, and the recognition of 
the certificates from the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, and other schools or 
colleges recognised by resolution of the Board, are pretty much the same in each Act. 
The penal clauses of the Act differ somewhat. In Victoria the fine for a breach of 
Section 25 of the Act is not to exceed £10 and imprisonment for six months ; in New 
Zealand, twelve months’ imprisonment and a fine of £20, and in Queensland, £20 and 
six months. 
Victoria appears to be the only colony where complete regulations have been framed. 
These deal with the election of the members and the proceedings of the board ; the 
duties of the registrar, treasurer, and auditors; the examiners and examinations, and 
the colleges and schools of pharmacy recognised by the board. 
