POLITICIANS ON SMOKING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 20, 18 October 1907, Page 10

POLITICIANS ON SMOKING.

Messrs. Keid and Deakin (says the Sydney "Telegraph") have given to the Press their experiences and views on smoking. "When T was about eight or nine," said Mr. Eeid, "I managed to smoke cane in considerable quantities, and with no ill-effects. That was the first stage. "The next was: One evening, after tea, I went .over to the camping ground at Moonee Ponds, and saw a number of men, fitting round fires. They all seemed so excessively happy that I determined to enjoy myself, too. Next morning I invested portion of my pocket-money in a new clay pipe.'l bought also a twist of 'the strongest negro brand tobacco. My father was a non-smoker, and would look upon my action with horror, sb I quietly went away into the bush, where I could enjoy this now-found happiness under safe conditions. It was beautiful for the first ten minutes. After that 1 got home very sick —so sick that 1 had to go home and confess my iniquities. ' ■ _ "As, a young man of 20 I tried acignr, but ' it made my head feel as though it was a sort of fireplace. I then took to sweets, and have stuck to them ever since. , "I am strongly opposed to . those who jre not grown men being allowed to smoke. The late Sir Alfred Roberts, the eminent surgeon, however, informed me that he started] smoking when ho was 63 years of age, and found that it was a distinct benefit. 11 is opinion was that when a man's faculties failed in old age, and ho became irritable, the soothing influences of a narcotic were very effective.'' . "I was once a smoker," said . Mr. Beakin, "but I gave it up. I thought it was affecting my eyes. ]' had got through cigarettes; ami had reachcd cigars and the pipe, but that is 20 years ago." Several members of the House of Representatives confessed in the tobacco discussion that they had never smoked. Mr. Walson said (hat though a consistent pipe smoker, he would vote for any duty that would keep down cigarette-smoking. It is most injurious, lie said.