§ 9. Captain Pluggeasked the Secretary of State for Air the reasons governing the regulation that Royal Air Force officers must not smoke pipes in public?
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Air (Captain Harold Balfour)The practice referred to, while generally discouraged, is not the subject of any regulation in the Royal Air Force.
§ Major MarkhamWhy should it be discouraged? Is it not a direct reflection on the officers of one Service against those of another?
§ Captain BalfourThere is no question of disciplinary action or of regulation. It is a matter of taste and opinion.
§ Major MarkhamSurely it is going to the limit of absurdity that in these little matters there should be this dictatorial and didactic attitude on the part of senior officers?
§ Captain BalfourThere is no dictatorial attitude. I have made it clear that there is no question of discipline or regulation. It is a matter left purely to the taste of the officers.
§ Mr. LawsonWould the Air Ministry be just as pleased to see a man smoke a pipe in public as a cigarette?