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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Police Accused Of Economic Sabotage

"Deliberate police action to choke the supply of a popular consumer item has only served to make it more scarce and drive prices up," said Libertarianz spokesman Richard McGrath, noting a recent incident where Lower Hutt police stole hydroponic plants and a fishing boat from some horticulturalists in a series of co-ordinated home invasions.

"Simple economics suggests that by restricting the supply of a tradable commodity in the face of constant demand, its price will jump," he said. "Unfortunately, several Lower Hutt people have had their businesses wrecked by the police, with their trade now driven further underground and into the hands of a violent criminal element."

"Apparently two firearms were also stolen by the police during these home invasions, before they could be utilised in self-defence," he added. "What is this country coming to, when a cottage industry with the potential to earn export dollars is deliberately vandalised and undermined by the very people who are meant to be protecting us from rapists, murderers and muggers?"

Dr McGrath was referring to orchestrated police assaults on the homes of Lower Hutt cannabis growers. He said his party would change the laws to prevent further politically-motivated police action against chemists and laboratories involved in the manufacture of recreational drugs.

"Libertarianz would prefer to see cannabis - and heroin - sold on supermarket shelves, not in back alleys," said the Masterton doctor. "Like alcohol, it would be for purchase by adults only. This would do much to demystify currently illicit drugs, improve their quality, drive their price down, and bust the current monopoly held on the sale of these substances by criminals."

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Richard McGrath * Libertarianz Deputy Leader * Fax (06) 377 3070 * mcgrath@no-income-tax.com Or contect Libertarianz Media Coordinator at (025) 861 927

* LIBERTARIANZ * More Freedom * Less Government *

www.libertarianz.org.nz www.freeradical.co.nz

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