SMOKING AND HEALTH.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19157, 14 November 1927, Page 10

SMOKING AND HEALTH.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FRIGS. Sir, —Notwithstanding the manner in which poor ''Margaret" is pilloried, anyone viewing the position broadly can see her point. But I believe "Margaret" made a mistake in condemning smoking "generally" instead of "particularly." The correspondent "Traveller" is, no doubt, one of the smokers whom we, fortunately, meet most frequently —a smoker who smokes good cigarettes, and good tobacco in a wholesome briar pipe of a good make, such pipe■ kept fragrant by proper attention. Smokers of this class, and cigar smokers, enjoy their smoke' without offending others. "Margaret" is most probably at war with the persons often met. during the "rush hours" on the trams—men who seem to enjoy forcing their work-soiled clothing against the I delicate clothing of women returning from shopping; men who puff vile fumes of filthy smoke from shocking .pipes into the faces of all near them. Sparks blown from carelessly tended pipes and cigarettes by the breeze caused by the fast-moving tram find their way into one's clothes and eyes, etc., in ■ a manner most unpleasant. One does not wish to interfere with the liberty of. one's fellows, but one's fellows should also not interfere with one's liberty either. Tobacco is an excellent disinfectant when used in crowded confined spaces, but it cannot be said to purify fresh air; it could only contaminate pure air. The West African "Leader Out" mentioned by a correspondent would be an acquisition to Christchurch, and New Zealand, but he would justify his existence by leading out. persons capable of causing endless ill-feeling and public inconvenience in our country, and not by turning his attention to "Margaret."—Yours, etc., CAROLINE. November 12th, 1927.