YOUNG DEVOTEES OF MY LADY NICOTINE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12266, 9 May 1903, Page 5 (Supplement)

YOUNG DEVOTEES OF MY LADY NICOTINE.

A Bill is to be introduced into Parliament for the prevention of juvenile smoking, which will render tobacconists liable to be fined, if they sell tobacco in any shape or form to boys under the age of sixteen.

Our (Westminster Gazette) Boy Reporter —who, by the way, is sensible and a nonsmoker—has been round amongst some other boys who do smoke, and has collected their opinions on the proposal. "It won't make no difference to me," said one, who was puffing away with apparent enjoyment. " I bet I'll get my 'baccy some'ow, arid I shill lay in a stock before'and." Another,' however, was more sensible, probably because he hopes soon to attain the age of manhoodsixteen years. "If it don't stop me," he remarked, "it'll do a lot o' good to these kids, yer know. W'y, it orter 'ave bin passed years ago, for then it would have bin a good thing for me." "Why, when did you commence?" asked the Boy Reporter. •'Bless yer," he answered, "I believe I was born wi' a fag in me mouf." The young reporter left him, and addressing three youngsters in Ludgate Circus, asked them if they had seen the notice about the proposed Act. " Yus, we've seen it," replied one, " and we've jes bin torkin abart that very fing. You can bet yer bottom dollor," he went on, " that well 'ave our fags. We're goin' fcer form a sinekit" (syndicate, probably). " Yer see that bloke there," pointing to the biggest of the three, "bein' over sixten, is goin' to tike our money, and buy us four, five, or six packets o' 'Nightshade.' Then we'll 'ave a good blow ahfc under the 'Delphi arches. What d'ye think o' that?" and he winked with the solemnity of the proverbial owl. " You'll get locked up, my boy," said the Boy Reporter. "Gaat!" said he,, "that lor won't come inter force." TOBACCO IN THE OLDEN DAYS. Concern for smokers similar to that which has eliminated in the propossd legislative regulation of the sale of tobacco to boys was apparently experienced by those in authority in 1621, for in that "year a motion for banishing tobacco wholly "out of the kingdom, "and that it may not be brought in from any part nor used among us," was submitted by Sir W. Stroud in the House of Common's. Sir Grey Palmer in support of it said that if tobacco be not banished "it will overthrow 100,000 men in England, for now it is so commm that I have seen ploughmen take it as they are at plough." What would those ancient legislators have thought about the prevalence of the weed had they lived in these days? THE ANTI-SMOKING BILL. A copy of the Bill appears in the Beacon Light. Here are its main provisions: — No person under the age of sixteen years shall smoke or use tobacco in any form, and any such person so doing shall be liable, on conviction, to penalty not exceeding ten shillings for each offence. No person shall sell, give, or supply tobacco in any form to, or for the use of, any person under the age of sixteen years, and any person so doing shall be liable (1) on a first conviction to a penalty nol> exceeding twenty shillings ; (2) on a second or subsequent conviction to a penalty not exceeding forty shillings ; and in addition to the foregoing penalties the licence (If any) held by such person for the sale of tobacco shall, in case of a third conviction, become void.