TYPIST AND HER CUP OF TEA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17711, 4 December 1925, Page 12

TYPIST AND HER CUP OF TEA.

NECESSARY IN OFFICES, WITH CENTRAL HEATING. LONDON, November 4. A novel theory about the typists office cup of tea was suggested at the conference of the Smoke Abatement League, which concluded at Buxton on Saturday. Thoughtless people think the habit is just a feminine weakness, but Dr Bennett, medical officer for the rural area of Warrington, believes other-

“The need which has arisen for -typists and clerks to be provided with a cup of tea both morning and afternoon in offices where there is central heating (he said) is probably caused by the dry atmosphere of such rooms and the absence of ventilation. “A feeling of lassitude creeps over people who have to work in such an atmosphere, and they have to restore their vitality by artificial means.” STIMULANT NECESSARY. In an interview, Dr Bennett said it had been found that in the public offices of Warrington even the male clerks could not continue their employment efficiently in rooms centrally heated without some kind of stimulant. “We estimated that their working capacity depreciated by about 2D per cent, and we now provide tea.- as a stimulant morning and afternoon.” There could be no doubt that the stimulating effect of the rays of both coal and gas fires was? an astonishing factor in our homes. In a room with a coal fire one felt warm even before reaching the fire. The rays had a stimulating effect upon i?ie skin absent from the heat created by radiation. THE SUNDAY BATH. Mr James Thomson, chief -architect of Dundee, defended a central heating svstem installed there to supply 518 houses. The Dundee Council received no complaints whatever as to the health of the tenants. One tenant who had occupied his house three years said his family had never enjoyed better health. Mr Thomson described how the tenants had continuous hot water. “And on Sundays,” he added, amid laughter, “the consumption of hot water is more than double, for the tenants bring in all their relations for a Sabbath bath. They all come—uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces and cousins.”