"THE PERNICIOUS HABIT." CIGARETTE-SMOKING AND CRIME.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 50, 28 February 1908, Page 3

"THE PERNICIOUS HABIT." CIGARETTE-SMOKING AND CRIME.

j; 1.81 T2LErtK.\rH. — riSEftS ASSOCIATION.] , ' ' . AUCKLAND, 27th February. At the Pdlice Oouvt this' afternoon a - boy of 15 year 3, who twelve months ago > entered on his working career . as a i messenger, pleaded guilty ; 'to misappropriating' small sums amounting, in , I all to £17, 133 lOd. The money was 5 filched in various ways— stealing stamps, I retain irig money given him .for sending , telegrani3, collec ting' small accounts, and , I 56 on. -Ths-hd's fafher', w-ho' expressed , I .willingness to mako restitution of all i I deficiencies,' explained that the boy had : j contracted the cigardtte-smo t ..dg habit, i j otherwise , hc> liad .always besp an apr , parently good lad. He 'attributed the 3 uishoiksty in. a large .measure." to an . effort to obtain the wherewithal to' pur- | chase, ttaso cigarettes. Tho bench warn- , ed the lad of the danger, moral and 3 physical, to boys who .contracted the . ci-gaiT-tte-smoking^habib, and. tpok him t severely to ■ task for yielding to dishonest temptation in .ordev to indulge :, >n ths pernicious habit. In order that . ho should not start l:fe v.-ith his irc5 putation damaged by a conviction for j dishonesty, tho b?nch decided to givo him another chancy calling upon, tho s lather to refund tho deficiencies, with