MORE SMOKING IN ITALY

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3493, 1 November 1926, Page 16

MORE SMOKING IN ITALY

ROMAN LADIES’ CIGARETTES. Statistics gathered in many towns of Italy regarding the consumption of articles of luxury indicate that Italy has made progress as compared to pre-war times equal to its gigantic political evolution. In most parts of the Peninsula people indulge in the pleasant weed thre times as much now as before the war. Figures for Koine show that the Romans take the lead hy smoking four tin ms as much as they did in 1914. What is more surprising is that the rise in the price of all grades o£ tobacco has not in the least discouraged the public. In 1914 tine Romans bought a package of excellent cigarettes of Oriental tobacco for 30 cents., for which they now pay 10-0 cents., and instead of reducing their consumption they have steadily increased it. '

llhis fact is very encouraging, naturally, to the State tobacco monopoly, which, the official told me, is now one of the most important sources of Government revenue, amounting to some three and a-half milliards of lire per annum.. When, after the war, the tobacco .segie raised the prices, it wr(i feared that the consumption of tobacco wouSd fall considerably, whertsas the contrary took place. Each time the price was arised the demand for the precious weed increased, evincing a touching desire on the part of the public to help the Government revenue.

Roman ladies, it appears, took special interest in furthering the public finances. Whale before the war hardly any Roman lady was ever seen with a cigarette, it is difficult to-day to find oae who does not indulge freely in the .pleasant habit. Balls and receptions' have notably decreased, according to society statistics, but the smoking of cigarettes has more than made up for it, and in fact it is believed that nearly half the increase in the State toteicco consumption is duo to the Italian women having followed the example of their sisters in other parts of the world in adopting the habit of cigarette smoking.