Commonwealth Games cigarettes

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32970, 17 July 1972, Page 12

Commonwealth Games cigarettes

Sir, —I have read all letters to date in connection with this subject. None of the noble correspondents has so far any constructive suggestions as to how to capture the elusive shekel. Seduction of the young, implication, degradation, and inference as put forward by some letters, rate the immature youth of our society rather low on intelligence. Most minors, long or short haired, are able and do look both ways before crossing. Just because we are about to play games, there is no need to ride hobby horses. —Yours, etc., ALLEN STEWART. Springburn, July 14, 1972.

Sir, —I find it interesting that the advertising for Phillip Morris’s controversial contribution to the Commonwealth Games is handled by J. Hott, Ltd, the manager of which is none other than the chairman of the Games organising committee, Mr R. S. Scott, himself.—Yours, etc., INTERESTED.

July 12, 1972. [Mr N. G. Hattaway, chairman of the legal and concessions committee of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, replies: “The contract with Phillip Morris in respect of the Gold Medal cigarettes was negotiated by the legal and concessions committee.”]

Sir, —Are cigarette sales to promote the Games, or the Games to promote the sale of cigarettes? Who stands to benefit most by this deal? The Games organisers appear to have little regard for the over-all effect of their action. Surely the weight of evidence submitted by world authorities has been sufficient to convince most people that cigarette smoking is dangerous to health. In consequence the Health Department is spending public money on an advertising campaign against smoking, and now the Games committee, by adopting these tactics is implying that warnings against smoking should be regarded lightly. It is now timely for the Government to take action by ensuring that tobacco manufacturers label their products to the effect that the contents if smoked are hazardous to health, and by increasing the tobacco tax considerably, so permitting a greater State contribution to the Games fund and also boosting the anti-smoking campaign.— Yours, etc.. EX PUFFER. July 13, 1972.

Sir, —The Commonwealth Games organisers’ collaboration with the cigarette company is a perfect example of hypocrisy. On the one hand the Games stand for the highest standards of health and hygiene and the other, an invitation to slowly destroy oneself under the guise of doing something in the “national interest.” Mr Scott’s statement that the project is probably the biggest undertaking of its type in the Games’ history may be correct, but other organisers have never become involved with such a diabolical scheme. If the public thinks carefully about the so-called Phillip Morris “image,” it would realise it is of another company supporting sports and cultural foundations as a sop to justify the sale of their products. The public, especially young people, should challenge the Games organisers to show enough principle to withdraw from this venture and if it continues, show distaste by boy-

cotting the Games cigarettes, —Yours, etc., BE POSITIVE. July 13. 1972.