SMOKING IN SCHOOLS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29673, 17 November 1961, Page 16

SMOKING IN SCHOOLS

Cancer Society Campaign

(N.Z Press Association; AUCKLAND, November 16. Preliminary steps in launching an anti-smoking campaign in secondary schools were taken today at a meeting called by the Auckland division of the British Empire Cancer Campaign Society. Representatives from public and private schools were told that the division had available film strips, a film and literature, which, it was hoped, would be used in the normal curriculum. The division did not want to issue propaganda, but merely to have the facts about cigarette smoking and lung cancer placed before children so they could judge for themselves. Mr A. H. Thom, district senior inspector of postprimary schools, representing the Education ’ Department, said he was becoming more and more concerned at the number of young people smoking away furiously. He was amazed at the number of university and pre-university students who “lit up” almost automatically Girls, in particular, were at fault. Mr J M Clarke, the New Zealand branch president of the Cancer Campaign Society, said the Auckland project would become a pilot scheme for 'he whole country. He felt adolescents were not interested io cancer, but more in that runners, like Halberg and Snell, did not smoke. However, if the scheme could prevent them from starting to smoke it would be a good thing. Halswell Building.— Forty building permits for buildings valued at £83.363 were granted by the Halswell County Council j n September and October, it was reported to a meeting of the council yesterday afternoon.