Pubdate: Sun, 09 Nov 2003
Source: Sunday Star-Times (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2003 Sunday Star-Times
Contact:  http://www.sundaystartimes.co.nz
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1064

TOBACCO CASH FOR AGED HAS LOBBYISTS FUMING

Tobacco cash has been used to support a branch of an organisation which is 
dedicated to promoting the quality of life and well-being of older people 
and advocates positive healthy ageing.

British American Tobacco, which makes cigarette brands such as Benson & 
Hedges and Rothmans, has donated $5000 this year to Flaxmere Age Concern - 
one of the Hawke's Bay local Age Concern branches.

It is also giving $5000 this year to the Hawke's Bay coastguard air patrol, 
$1000 to Victim Support in Hawke's Bay, $6000 to the Rotary pathway in the 
region, and $10,000 to the Art Deco Society in Napier.

The tobacco giant said it was committed to Hawke's Bay because its factory 
was based in Ahuriri, but along with the community projects, it has 
increased its support of the Life Education Trust - to $150,000 a year.

This year the Sunday Star-Times revealed the firm had donated $100,000 a 
year for three years to the trust, an organisation that teaches children 
about healthy living.

The donations were labelled inappropriate by the government and shocked 
anti-smoking groups, which said schools should reconsider using the trust's 
programmes.

Life Education Trust director Trevor Grice defended the donations, saying 
its position was not compromised and it needed the money. The tobacco 
company has given the organisation more than $500,000.

Anti-smoking groups were concerned by the latest round of donations and 
called for important social organisations such as Age Concern and Victim 
Support to return the money. But the tobacco firm challenges critics of the 
donations to front up with the same amount of cash for the organisations.

Trish Fraser, director of anti-smoking group Ash, said taking money from 
the tobacco industry was "totally wrong".

"I know it's very difficult for organisations to get money but I don't 
think any needs to be taking money from the tobacco industry."

BAT was improving its public image by being seen to support worthwhile 
organisations, Fraser said.

But Flaxmere Age Concern chairman Neil Hatcher, who does not smoke, 
defended the donation, saying it was difficult to find funding and the 
money would help more than 130 elderly people in the community.

"We're quite prepared to take that sort of criticism (from anti-smoking 
groups) on board but how are we going to keep operating? What are they 
going to give us?"

Age Concern national chief executive Garth Taylor said he was not aware of 
the donation, but said it was up to each branch to find funding. The 
organisation had no national policy restricting where donations came from.

BAT spokesman Carrick Graham said the company was committed to Hawke's Bay 
and offered assistance to worthwhile community projects. It did not support 
schools, religious organisations or sports agencies which had regular 
contact with children, despite being asked for assistance.

"Age Concern approached us and were utterly desperate for some sort of 
assistance.

"Many of our employees are involved with BATNZ's Hawke's Bay community fund 
and it gives them a great feeling to be able to give back to the community.

"If we get attacked we challenge those people to match our donations. If 
they are concerned the donations are inappropriate, maybe they'd like to 
match our donations instead of criticising from the sidelines."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens