CIGARETTE MACHINES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20722, 15 November 1930, Page 14

CIGARETTE MACHINES.

Sir, —Permit me to draw attention to A new menace to the physical and mor&l welfare of the juvenile life of our city. I refer to the recently-installed cigarette machines on public streets. My attention was first attracted to this fresh evil by seeing a boy of some 10 or 12 years of age fingering a machine marked "cigarettes." By the smallness of the child 1 concluded it was some sweetmeat got up to represent a "smoke," but to my horror, on closer inspection of a second machine in another locality, I discovered the machine was evidently a contrivance for the distribution of ordinary cigarettes to the public by means of a penny in the slot. I havo always been under the impression that it was illegal for children below a certain age to be served with cigarettes and tobacco. Such a law is nullified, if any boy or girl of tender vears can procure cigarettes without let or hindrance at any time by means of these machines. While the formation of children's health camps is to be commended, T am sure all those who have the moral and physical welfare of onr young people at heart will regard Mr. Stallworthy as doing less than his duty as Minister of Health if he does not take steps to immediately have this additional temptation to juvenile depravity removed from our public streets. * Watchman.