“Tobacco Found Guilty”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31188, 12 October 1966, Page 1

“Tobacco Found Guilty”

The Health Department does not favour an immediate ban on cigarette and tobacco advertising, or a health warning on cigarette packs and cartons, according to a letter from the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) to the National Association on Smoking and Health.

According to the association’s latest journal, Mr Holyoake said that the two proposals had already been considered by the Minister of Health (Mr McKay). A ban on advertising would probably assist the antismoking campaigns already in progress, but there would not be any guarantee that moneysaved would not be diverted to more subtle advertising fields such as sponsoring sports meetings.

Tobacco firms voluntarily had gone some way to restrict the appeal of smoking to young people and had agreed to cease advertising on radio and television.

The journal quoted Mr Holyoake as saying “My colleagues and I are reluctant to enforce compulsory banning of all such advertising, especially when overseas publications which are available here in substantial numbers continue to feature tobacco advertising.” The journal said that the Prime Minister stated that the warning on packets technique had been introduced in the United States, and departmental officers in New Zealand were watching the situation there with interest. “It is Mr McKay’s view that this kind of warning will be of doubtful value because the smoker is fairly well committed once he has bought the tobacco and has the packet in his possession. "Mr McKay believes that

our health education approach is a more positive way of tackling the problem of discouraging young people from smoking,” Mr Holyoake said. The association said it had asked all political parties for their views on a ban and a health warning on packets. The Labour Party replied that it “recognises the health hazard involved, and believes only a close examination of the position would indicate what would be the best steps to take in the interests of the nation.

“One of the most effective steps would be a positive and extensive publicity campaign by health and education authorities stressing through schools the health hazard of smoking.” Social Credit said it would sponsor a programme of health education with particular reference to the effect of smoking on health.

The association comments: “The National and Labour Parties both gave a polite

negative. This is understandable, as they stand face to face with the money power of tobacco, £l6 million in tax revenues, and the interlocking directorates of the tobacco and liquor industries, and other heavy-weights of the financial world.

“Despite its powerful financial resources, the skids are under tobacco which has been found guilty by the world court of medical research. Step by step we will succeed in breaking down and smashing the resistance in front of us.”