"My Lady Nicotine."

Horowhenua Chronicle, 22 July 1910, Page 4

"My Lady Nicotine."

IIW! I.OVKKS AM) K.VIOMIKS. Divergent opinions ;i.s to the efjt'i:t.s (,i smoking were expressed ai la>t meeting oi t| u . Victoria College Council (n-p,. ts tho .New Zeal:lllii ItHU'.s). Im. discussion arose •'Mt ol a letter from the ■Students' Association, asking tbait smoking ■siionki be permitted in the com" " l,ill ';'' ,( »!»- When tho request cam.; belore the finance committee (it Lie council previously it va.s agreed to recommend that no ob.leicioo be iMi.seil, but the council, :it its last meeting, suggested that tliu opinion of the general hotly of stiui.-iiLs should ho obtained, and a communication Has sent to .the Students' Association in order ti,. lt this course illicit be followed. . Last night the. Students' AssoeiaI: '»." n> l'l"'d ti!i:it it had been unanimously recommended, at a commit t.-a' meeting of the .association, that the request originally made to the council should be adhered to. When the letter was read it was explained that, at present, the "non-smoking" rule applied in the ii.vniuasiun), except in the men's dressing room, juid the social hall (wlun that room was not required lor I u net ions). Sir Robert Stout, remarked, noon the harm!ill effects of smoki'ii" especially in student life. lOinuien.t |>!i.v.;ijiii::s agreed that smoking. especially cigarette smoking, \ UH ( j„. creased of late years, and" £lo,()()().. 0(;i) had been spent in cigarettes in I'.ngland last year. Comparing the amount of tobacco consumed per head in Knglaml and in Xew Zealand, it would be found that the people of the dominion \\\'vo tin' heavier smokers. Tobacco sniokin<g uas one of the worst habits which the student couhl acquire if He wished to do any hard nmiit.nl work, ror it >had a sedative effect. •■t spoiled energy, and it weakened the heart. It was not right that students should be allowed to smoke in the common room, which w - iUS ills" t'>i; the use of non-smokers s'lme of whom could not bear the effects of tobacco smoke. "ff om students are to be manly men " eonehued Sir Robert, "they should ndof all drug I Kl bits' as fast as possible—and smoking is one 0 f 7° I w ; orsfc - T (I <»"'fc see whv we should encourage students in" this pernicious habit."

Mi; Mag.i, m .!t v: Can't we nialcß proy.isiom tar the smokers? Sir Robert Stout: Tliev have a mom, , Mr l J- TT - 9 mVk: -Do ivc understand from tins that tliov want to t"r") ' ° VKI t,ie P,lU '° ? ( ' T ' ail KliSir Robert Stout; Yes. that is it Tt.ie cha'irman (jr.- H. F. Von explained that tlio students cmiM not smoke in the drossino--motn m comfort, and, while entertain ments were in proems in the SVt' !dns ™** Sir Robert Stout: Why should a non-smoke"- have to p„t ,in w'ih this filthy practice? Gh;irJe.s Wilson disagreed with .Sir Robert, and admitted that lie was a jinavy s.n ( »ker-un,nshan,ed tr> admit it. fTjano;htor.) Hp did not see why the council, as Mm jodv control Li na; the. financial and business side of tilio university, had any right to make sumptuary laws n bind the Students' Association. M tlm past the council had endeavoured to give such in ait tors into the bancs of the students themselves toll owing democratic principle. ' Sir R(,Wt Stout: This is not democratic. Mr Wilson: Ah, no. You are one of tli's- first who would throw over an ■argument',if it did not suit von. (Laughter.) Wo did not interfere in the past. The council finally agreed by a small majority, to' adhero to 'the previous decision to allow smokinnin the common tooth. 1-1 Mr Wilson gave notice to move that smoking among students be confined entirely to the men's common room and dressing room He considered the social' li.nll, where latly students might assemble was not a place in which smoking should bo allowed. Sir Robert Stout: Perhaps the ladies will want permission to smoke! (Laughter.) Mr Wilson Then wo shall want a new rule. (Languor.)