Cigarette Smoking.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, Volume 1, Issue 26, 20 September 1901, Page 2

Cigarette Smoking.

There is a consensus of opinion amongst tlie medical faculty throughout the world that probaby the most injurious sma'l vice indulged in, is th« smoking of cigarettes. If this is the cas« with' adults, how much more is it so when tin vice is indulged in by young hoys and youths just budding into manhood. We are told by medical men that tba cigarette stunts the growth and injures the digestion of 'hose who indulge in it. This statement will be endorsed by every observant man. In addition there is no in practice which is equally calculated to impair the eyesight and render spectacles a necessity at an abnormally early ag . There is a Bill before Parl-anv-nt, introduced by Mr. Field, to prevent ■ children and immature youths from indulging in the vice in | public. This, if passed, will, of course! render any youngster liable to punish j nient who smokes in public, but will not preventjiim getting out of sight and puffing away as vigorously as he pleases. What is required is to cut off the source of supply. It must be made penal for any dealer in tobacco to sell: to a boy, and any person procuring cigarettes or tobacco for a boy must be made liable to punishment, much j as a man is who piocures beer or! spirits for; a prohibited person. v - An act is in force in one of th%-^tafes of the Commonwealth, whi£fl compels the registration of tobacco dealers who are liable, if they sell to a boy, to a fine of £5 for the first offence and to forfeiture of license for a second. This may be traublesome, but the health of the rising generation must be considered before the convenience of those who deal in an article calculated' to inflict injury upon them,