THE CIGARETTE PASSION

Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1923, Page 2

THE CIGARETTE PASSION

WOMEN PRISONERS. WELLINGTON, August 10. One of the infrequent lighter passages in Parliament arose over a suggestion during the discussion of the Estimate* that the privilege enjoyed by male prisoners of a small allowance of tobacco might he extended by way of cigarettes to women prisoners.

Mr Wilford, an ex-Minister cf Justice, remarked that the tobacco allowance had greatly improved discipline in prison, because even the hardest character came to heel if the punishment involved deprivation of tobacco, consequently the solitary confinement cells were empty. When he was Minister, a groat number of women prisoners wore agitating for an allowance of cigarettes, and he wondered how the agitation was getting on.

The Hon. 0. J. Parr, Minister of Justice, in his reply, suggested that Mr Wilford lihd asked for cigarettes for women prisoners, but a prompt denial came from the Opposition benches. The Minister admitted that the soothing influence of tobacco had been quite useful in getting prisoners into a reasonable frame of mind. Mr Holland: It’s a mild drug. Mr I’arr; If that is coddling prisoners, most people would agree to it. As *for women prisoners, he believed certain old women were permitted tobacco under medical order, but thc\ prefetivd a pipe to cigarettes, lie was not prepared to go so far as to recommend cigarettes for women prisoners without making some investigation. “I understand.’’ added the Minister, whimsically. “that cigarettes deprive women ot a great deal of their charm and pleasantness, so they should not Ik i encouraged.”