SMOKING IN TRAMCARS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5374, 6 September 1904, Page 6

SMOKING IN TRAMCARS.

(To tho Editor "N.Z. Times,;') Sir. —I am pleased to see Doable Docker” and “Pure Air” helping ray contentioa that more facilities should be Riven to smokers. Tho former shows how smokers had to stand on platforms of tho old service, and the latter shows the inconveniences suffered by both smokers and non-smokers in every public conveyance. *‘A national Smoker is oft the argument altogether. Allow me to add to tho controversy that in many of tho Old Country music halls and other public places smoking is permitted, proper ventilation preventing any inconvenience to those who arc sensitive. A'lofc has been made rf the awful objection of women to smoke, probably hy those who are unaware that a good half of the women of to-day are themselves smokers. Nobody wants to smoko where there are women, anyhow.—l am, etc., y LOED NICOTINE. September stb, (To tho Editor "N.Z. Times.”) Sir.—Your article re smoking in tramcars which appeared in Friday’s issue of the "New Zealand Times” was, I think, very timely. I am a non-smoker, and a farmer, and live in the free fresh country air. However, I often visit tho capital city, where much of the pleasure of travelling is marred hy tho odour of tobacco smoke. In tho auction rooms, in tho trnmears, on railway stations, and even in ordinary railway carriages, the "smoking strictly prohibited” sign is disregarded. Tho ladies and a largo portion of non-smoking men have their tastes, and have a right to be considered. Surely a true gentleman will deny himself the pleasure of a smoke for a short timo .when others are inconvenienced by it-—X am. etc., ’ FRESH AIK. Shannon, September 3. (To the Editor, "N.Z. Times.”) Sir, —There is an important matter that has been overlooked in this smoking controversy, and that is tho convenience of tho toiler. Do you know that nine out of every ten tradesmen are prohibited from smoking while at work? They have to leave their suburban homes at about 7.15 a.m. to enable them to reach work in duo time, and then they have to toil for eight and three-quarter hours with an interval of only thirty minutes for lunch; so tho result-is that a workman will not bo able to have a comfortable smoke from evening to evening unless he is able to smoko on the trams. Let there bn a division made in tho single-decked cars, so that smokers may blow their clouds in comfort. —I am, etc.. ’DENY 'ANDED. September 5. (To the Editor “N.Z. Times.”) Sir, —You are very good to try and stop one of tho many inconveniences ladies have to put up with from men, viz., smoking in tramcars; but do yon not think that tho custom might be permitted on the workpeople’s cars? No lady would bo riding on them, and so there would bo no inconvenience; or conld not ono of the old tram cars bo dragged behind the new cars at some distance, and the unspeakable habit permitted there?— I am, etc., A KIND LADY. Septembers.