SMOKING IN TRAMCARS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5372, 3 September 1904, Page 3

SMOKING IN TRAMCARS.

(To the Editor “N.Z. Times.”) Sir, —Why the objection in your leading columns against decent facilities being given to smokers on the tramcars? Permit mo to controvert some of your arguments. Yon hopo that the City Council will resist any proposal to set apart a number of cars as “smokers” because it is unnecessary, because it would place women under considerable inconvenience, and because it would make part of the service objectionable to the majority of men. It is not unnecessary at all. The authorities of every big city in the world have made accommodation for smokers, either by “trailers” or by special compartment. It would not place women under any inconvenience. Don’t be concerned about them t If they were in a hurry and wanted to travel by a passing smok-ing-car they would board it quickly enough, and sniff until the pipes were put out. I’ve teen it done on more than one railway smoking-car. Anyhow, the averago woman is rarely in such a hurry that she could not wait for another car; and supposing she is? Shall men have no smoking-cars because a lady is in a hurry? Anyhow, what about the inconvenience of men ? You merely quote the inconvenience to women. Hits it come to the day when the chief end of man shall be to sneak through life lest ho give some inconvenience to woman? As for the statement that smoking-cars would make part of the service objectionable to tho majority of men, what’s the use of saying that when the majority of men smoko? And as the majority of men smoke, the majority of men travelling by tram are smokers, and pay the majority of fares. Therefore, if the majority of passengers are not to he fairly treated on cars that they pay most money to, the cars are being run for Women and non-smokers. You finish your demand by referring to apartments reeking with tobacco fumes, where only a fractional number would care to travel. That helps me, and proves only the urgent necessity of enlarged accommodation for smokers.—l am etc., ’ LORD NICOTINE. September 2nd.