ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22109, 3 June 1937, Page 8

ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO

TO THE EDITOR OF TEE PRESS. Sir,—Your correspondent, M. G. Davies, gives us a lot of scientific facts which make one think she must be a professor of microbes. Children do smoke but their grandparents were our pioneers in New Zealand and they were all smokers, and drank also, when they could get It. Come out to Tuarangi Home in Ashburton and look at some of the old Inmates there, who are over 80 and more. If you barred them from a smoke they would read the riot act. Most of their children are husky specimens, and smoke. The majority of doctors smoke, and have a spot, and you would think they should know as much as M. G. Davies about nicotine. —Yours, etc., C. C. flAnagan. Ashburton. June 1, 1937.

TO TEE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir, —Having read C. C. Flanagan's reply to my letter of May 28, may I be permitted to ask him if he would have his readers believe that the native races quoted by him as examples of vice and virility, were strong and virile because of their vices, or in spite of them, and would he suggest adopting all their other habits of life also? I can see no analogy between the speed of motor-cars and the subject under discussion, unless the writer wishes to Infer that because we live In an age of Speed, the rising generation should be given every facility for speeding down the hill towards social and moral depravity, which many are certainly doing. Where the analogy fails Is that the first-mentioned use motor spirits to supply the power, and the second use alcohol. I would like to thank “Common Sense” for the correction concerning the proportion of wages or sustenance spent on strong drink and other vices. Not wishing to exaggerate, I erred on the other side. My main object, however. In writing these letters, is not to bring before the public the results of this iniquitous traffic, which- must be patent to all, except the wilfully blind, but to arouse to. action those who have the public welfare more or less in their hands. The apathy of our Christian ministers, officers of the law and both local and national governments towards these questions, which are of such vital Importance both from a community and national standpoint is appalling. Whole columns of our newspapers are devoted to such subjects as mortality among lambs, disease of sheep, cattle, etc., and every avenue of science is explored to find a remedy. I ask in the language of the Master whom I serve, “How much better is a man than a sheep?”—Yours, etc., EFFICIENCY, Temuka, June 1, 1937. TO THE EDITOR OF THE FRESS, Sir, —A man. when he drinks alcoholic liquor, usually smokes at the same time. As the nerve-exciting effect of alcohol Is, to some extent, neutralised by the soothing effect of the nicotine, the resultant feeling could, one would think, be obtained by drinking less and smoking not at all. But It could not. To the habitual, though not necessarily excessive, drinker, a smoke brings perfection when alcohol, in no matter how small a quantity, is consumed. I started to smoke and drink because ipy neighbours did and I started when I was a boy for the reason that all adolescents did and do—because I wished to display that I had arrived at the age to I doubt if my health has been affected by my habits any more than has that of your correspondent "Efficiency” by tea

or some similar liquid. It is In man’s nature to do what is bad for him, even to writing to newspapers.—Yours, etc., FUMING ANTI-PROHIBITIONIST. June 1. 1937.

TO THE BBITOB Or TH» PUSS. Sir. One cannot help but admire the sentiments expressed by “Common Sense.’ The presence of drunkenness is very marked in this city. It seems that the increased hours of leisure tl._t the 40hour week has given have been spent by many in additional alcoholic indulgences. People laugh at the menace of excessive drinking, but it is a very serious problem. The centre of the drink traffic, has shifted from the hotel to the privacy of the home and places of amusement. Admiral Evans lately, in a message to youth, pointed out the menace of the post-war habits “of cocktail drinking and joy-riding." If the increase in drinking is not checked there will be only one end for our race—ultimate degeneracy The spiritual, moral, and physical wellbeing «f our race will be seriously endangered.—Yours, etc., N.H.H.S. June 1, 1937. POINTS FROM OTHER LETTERS “Christchurch Wake Up” complains of the method of street collectors and contends that the health camp idea is fallacious. The writer wants to know if the organisers think that a fortnight’s holiday in a health camp is going to make up for the damage done by “neglect, filthy homes, no proper food, coloured sweets, ice cream, late nights in overheated or icecold rooms, old schools where children freeze in winter and breathe dust from borer-infested wood, and bare feet that pick up germs from the gutters.” “One of the Old School” congratulates the Christchurch Competitions Society on its selection of iudtre for the fancv dancing sections. “Her fairness and helpful remarks, I feel sure, were much appreciated by all,” says the correspondent.