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For the information of some members of the Committee of the Upper House who considered the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, I append the following statement and diagram taken from the last report of the Medical Officer for London with regard to the effect of tobacco upon the young: — Tobacco. —lt has been evident lately that there is a great increase in cigarette-smoking among young people. Cigarette-manufacturers hold out inducements in the way of photograp*hs, foreign stamps, or prize coupons to children to purchase these cigarettes. Boys, even as young as ten years of age, have been seen in our examinations with tobacco-stained fingers. The definite effect of tobacco, apart from the initial sickness and nausea, is difficult to assess. We believe that it interferes with nutrition and growth, and particularly with the evolution of the highest nervous centres, which are attaining full functions in later childhood, so that the moral character is apt to be weakened. Palpitation and inability for exertion are frequently seen, and it is said that, in addition to mere slackness, which is common, a peculiar condition of indifference and apathy is noticed in many boys who smoke. In addition to this there is sometimes difficulty in vision, the acuity presenting great variations from normal, and the writing being affected. This is capable of demonstration : an illustration showing samples of the writing of two cigarettesmoking boys in the same class is given, showing the deteriorated writing, and later recovery on giving up tobacco. (See facing page.) Rainfall and Temperature. The graphical illustration of the rainfall and temperature of the Dominion is valuable and interesting. (See facing page.)

Statistics for Diagram showing Mean Rainfalls and Temperature for the North and South Islands of New Zealand, computed from the Climatological Tables published in The New Zealand Gazette, 1907-8.

N.B. The averages for the same months in previous years are shown underneath in italic type. Observations. The leading features of the year (April, 1907, to March, 1908, inclusive) show a cold winter, with a dry period in midwinter, especially in South Island, and a hot and dry summer following—on the whole the driest on record in the Dominion. In temperature April, 1907, was above the average in both Islands ; but May to October, both inclusive, were all below the mean, and the latter five months, November to March, inclusive, were all above. With regard to rainfall, until November, 1907, the rainfall over the North Island did not differ remarkably from the average of former years ; but the extremely low records of January and February were followed by the heavy rains of March, which mean was double the means of three years previous. In the South Island only September, October, December, and March showed a slight excess,--t)ut droughts prevailed in June and July, and in January and February. The reports of the District Health Officers, their Inspectors, the Maori Health Officers, and those of the Bacteriologist and Analysts, are appended. I have, &c, J. M. Mason, M.D., F.C.S., D.P.H. Cantab., Chief Health Officer for the Dominion. The Hon. the Minister of Public Health, Wellington.

1907. 1908. April. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. J Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. March. Rainfall, in Inchei North Island .. South Island .. 5-51 547 3-98 5-28 3-13 3-13 3-20 3-74 442 5-15 5-24 5-00 4-97 5-50 3-70 4-52 1-72 2-34 3-72 5-52 3-84 3-78 2-95 5-00 5-06 2-59 4-41 3-66 4-86 2-64 4-18 3-41 3-30 2-99 3-27 2-90 040 4-72 147 3-34 1-06 3-63 1-08 3-52 8-05 3-89 5-99 4-42 North Island .. South Island .. 59-9 51-5 57S 52-7 55-5 47-9 52-9 48-1 Temperature, in Degree 47-2 47-2 49-2 51-2 48-6 48-6 4,9-7 51-6 42-5 42-1 43-9 46-9 43-8 4,2-9 44-5 47-7 s Fahrenheit. 53-9 59-9 54-8 58-2 50-6 56-9 52-6' 55-6 65-3 62-7 62-2 59-7 64-7 62-6 62-5 59-5 63-5 630 604 60-0 62-3 67-5 584 58-4