“MY LADY NICOTINE”

Motueka Star, Volume I, Issue 11, 17 September 1901, Page 4

“ MY LADY NICOTINE ”

AMUSING DEBATE IN THE COUNCIL. The members of the Legislative Council m the debate on the Hon. Colonel Pitt’s Cigarette Smoking by youths Prohibition Bill gave expression to some interesting views concerning the “ soothing weed,” but which is anything hut soothing according to some of the honour-able members.

After Colonel Pitt had explained Bill, the lion. G. AlcLean rose to second the motion fertile second reading. He was glad to see before him, at lad;, a measure to which he conld really give his support. He would like to see the Bill go further, and prohibit the making up of threepenny packets of cigarettes, which were only made up for boys. He would even l.ke to see smoking in the streets prohibited as an offence. He did not see why, when anyone wished to go along the street, it should be through an atmosphere heavy with tobacco smoke that might “upset” him for the day. He wanted to know why people could not regulate their offices so that the buildings would not reek of t> bn coo smoke. On steamers there was a smoking room set apart. He did not envy those who sat in that room, hut be supposed they did’nt mind it; but why ttey should be allowed to walk about deck, even amongst ladies, making themselves a nuisance to everyone, be cmld not understand, Ho could sooner put up w±tn a man drinking whisky than smoking tobacco, (Laughter.) A man drinking whisky did not annoy one and a man smoking a pipe did. (Renewed laughter.) Ho wished tbe prohibitionists would give up tlieir fads about moderate drinking and try to ok,tain the prohibition of smoking. (Laughter.) Cigarette smoking bv boys was a disgraceful habit, and case of cancer were traceable to it. The Hon. W. C. Thai! e • said the use of t.-bacco at an early age was very injuik.us; but if young lads wanted to simile, then let them try tie good old honest pipe. (Laughter.) He sympathised heartily with the -object of the Bill, but there were some clauses he c ; uld not support. His own experiences of nicking had been obtained at a great personal sacrifice. (Laughter.) lie objected to the “whipping clause” in the Bill.

The Eon. T. Kelly considered the Bill not workable.

Tbe Hon. IT. Scotland thought the age < f seventeen too high to place as a. lim.t. Lads of seventeen were sometimes men at that age and earning their oven living. It was vidicui. us to say that “those big fellows” should not be allowed to smoke cigarettes if they desired to do so. All hon. member : They can smoke cigars. "The Hon. W. C. Walker: That would be very much better. Hm G. Jones: That depends up»on what the cigars are < f. Hon. G. Jones further said he 1 elieved in the Bill, but he objected to the whipping. To whip a, lad of seventeen would destroy his self-respect for life. Cigaxette smoking was as bad as opium smoking worse, because more widespread. Cigarette smoking frequently caused death. An hon. member: “Good Lord!”

Air Jones continuing, said to stop a man smoking would be to interfere with the sacred rights of the subject, about which they had. heard so much from the Hon, G. AlcLean not longago. As regarded preferring drinking to smoking, he thought a man who drank was most objectionable, as he smelt of liquor and intruded himself upon everybody. The Hon. G. AIoI Lean bad spoken of prohibitioni.-t fad .

AVhy the hon. gentleman had a fad himself regarding smoking. An hon. member : He dosen’t smoke. The Hon. G. Jones : No ; hut his fad is quite as big as the prohibitionists had. He might just as well urge the prohibition of drink as of smoking. An hon. member : Leave drinking alone. The Hon. R. Reeves said he did not see anything against smoking. He had commenced at twelve years of age and ifc didn’t seem to have affected his growth. (Laughter) He believed cigarettes had a very pernicious effect, but lie had never smoked one himself. He would like to see the obnoxious cigarette suppressed. The Hon. H. Feld wick said a good cigarette was better any day than a bad cigar. It was the adulterated tobacco that caused the trouble, and to enforce the Adulteration Act would have more effect than to try to stop cigarette smoking. He felt so strongly on this point that he moved that the third reading of tbe Bill be takeu three months hence.