COMPLAINT ABOUT SMOKING

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26856, 8 October 1952, Page 3

COMPLAINT ABOUT SMOKING

Sir, —Mr T. M. Charters, a smoker, told the Transport Board, according to your report, that the time had arrived when the board had to take a stand against smoking on its vehicles. Mr Fardell added that smoking was prohibited in all trams, trolley-buses and buses in America. Smokers have been most inconsiderate in this matter. In our buses the air is sometimes charged to suffocating point with tobacco smoke. The turn-over to modern transport provides a most favourable opportunity for abolishing this practice. Smoke is an irritant, especially tobacco smoke. There is rather more than a suspicion that this irritant might be the cause of the increase in lung cancer. Beside being offensive, therefore, it is not impossible that passengers, daily enveloped in these fumes, might, equally with the smoker, be subject to this risk.—Yours, etc., REASONABLE. October 7, 1952.

Sir, —Mr T. M. Charters is to be applauded for his civilised attitude toward those who prefer fresh air in trams, buses and elsewhere. One may go to the beach and outlying suburbs to escape city smoke (and odours in hot weather) and spend 20 minutes to half an hour in purgatory going and coming because the air is poisoned by some individual, regardless of his own or other folks’ health. The tramway authorities would do to consider how much in fares is lost to them through this form of selfishness. There are still a number of women who do not smoke, strange as it may seem, and I know two who saved up for cars to avoid continual and necessary tram rides in insanitary conditions. Overseas visitors have been heard to comment. Now one understands why. It is not done where they came from. —Yours, etc., CLEAN UP. October 17, 1952.