14 MARCH 1952, Page 22

Cutting Down SIR.—Was it patriotic of ;Ir. Nicolson to cut

down his daily consump- tion of cigarettes from fifty to five ? I cannot understand how he.can " breathe more freely." as he says he does, when he realises that the £120-odd which he formerly contributed in tax must now be taken out of someone else's pocket, If Mr. Nicolson has made ..the further mistake of investing this balance in National Savings Certificates the position is even more deplorable; for in ten years' time he will be demanding his money back with interest. -Life is very complex these