NO PROMISE MADE

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32019, 20 June 1969, Page 19

NO PROMISE MADE

Tobacco Co.’s Statement The promise of a seeing eye dog in return for collected cigarette packets has not been held out by W. D. and H. 0. Wills (New Zealand), Ltd, the secretary of the company (Mr J. J. Desmond) says in a letter to “The Press.” Early last month It was reported that rumours which had resulted in persons needlessly collecting empty cigarette packets had embarrassed Rothmans, Ltd. The report said there were rumours—which were without foundation —that the collection of 10,000 packets would result in the company sponsoring a blind girl to Britain to be trained with a seeingeye dog. Mr Desmond said that to his company’s knowledge, no tobacco company in New Zealand had made such an offer. Legal advice had been, however, that the gift of a dog in return for cigarette packets collected by a third party would not be illegal. “We know that other tobacco companies, like ours and like most companies, regularly make substantial contributions of money and manhours to a variety of organisations in need. And, like other companies, we are always conscious of the sad fact that there is never enough available for donations to erase need,” Mr Desmond said.