BAN ON SMOKING

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 47, Issue 2670, 15 September 1937, Page 5

BAN ON SMOKING

COMMITTEE INCLUDED

EDUCATION BOARD EDICT

HUMOUR’ AT PAEROA MEETING.

The ban on smoking laid down by the Auckland Education Board came in for criticism, mostly of a jocular pature, by the Paeroa District School Committee on Monday evening when it was revealed that the prohibition applied also to committee members. The meeting is always held in the staff-room of the school and previously members had “lit up” as a matter of course. Most of the comments made were in the nature of good-humoured banter and although several members appeared reluctant to do so, pipes and cigarettes were regretfully put away. A cutting from a city paper containing a letter on the matter was produced by the secretary, Mr J. H. Bartlett. The letter, which was written in satirical vein in connection with the ban on smoking, contained an allusion to the Psalms. Mr Bartlett had looked this up, and the text the writer referred to was: “Who satisfyeth thy mouth with good things so that thy youth be renewed like an eagle’s.” The suggestion was that teachers should study the Psalms instead of smoking.

OPINION AT NGATEA EFFECT ON FUNCTIONS “INTERFERENCE WITH LIBERTY” Strong disapproval was voiced by members of the Ngatea District High School Committee on Monday eveningof the circular prohibiting smoking on school premises. One membei' termed it “unwarranted interference with the liberty of the teachers.” It was pointed out that during the slump years the committee and the school staff had maintained the grounds by functions held in and around the premises but the edict of the board would make anything of the kind impracticable in the future. Further, the action of the board, showed a sad lack of discretion in the teachers it had appointed. It was unanimously resolved to forward the. committee’s opinion to the board and also to the school committees’ association.