SHOULD WOMEN SMOKE?

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2570, 18 September 1915, Page 11

SHOULD WOMEN SMOKE?

DEBATED BY THE FRENCH CLUB. There was a spirited debate at the French Club on Thursday evening, the subject being:. "Is it as Suitable for Women to Smoko as for Moil?" The opening speech was made by Miss van Staveren, who spoke of the pleasure men found in smoking, and of the practice calming the nerves. She urged that if the practice was good for men it was equally good for women, and that women had more need of their nerves being .calmed than had men. The objections to the practice. of women smoking, she contended, were merely sentimental. Miss van -Stavoren was supported by Mrs. A. M. Myers, a member of the Auckland French Club. Mrs. Seville opened the case for the opposite side. She urged that the difference of the habits of men and women made it undesirable for women to indulge in smoking as a habit, Women spent so much time in the house, and so the living in ait atpiosphero reeking of tobacco smoke ivas a bad thing for the women themselves, and especially for young children. She was not averse, however, to a woman indulging occasionally in smoking for the purpose of relieving insomnia, or even a smoke now and then with her husband and some friends, but she condemned making it a practice. Mrs. Seville was supported by Miss Mead and Miss Hind. Tho latter lady spoke of the double expense in a poor mail's home if the wife as wall as tho husband indulged in smoking. A number of members took part in the debate. One member spoke of the comfort that smoking afforded to our men m the trenches, and urged that women needed like comforts. Others spoke of the harm done by excessive smoking, and said that greater harm would be done to women on account of their more delicate organisation. On a vote being taken it was decided, by a small majority, that it was not advisable for women to smoke.