Rothmans out of tournament

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34021, 10 December 1975, Page 22

Rothmans out of tournament

<New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. December 9. Rothmans New Zealand has dissociated itself from next year's world men’s softball championships at Lower Hutt.

The championships were to be called the Pall Mall World Series, but Rothmans has asked the New Zealand Softball Association to delete any reference to the company. I This stems from the likely |participation of South Africa [and Taiwan.

i It is Rothmans’ policy to steer clear of events involving public controversy, and the company believes that, if South Africa and Taiwan are [included, the softball series will fall into this category. I The company associated [itself with the softball tournament some months before the General Election, and at a time when the participation of South Africa or Taiwan seemed a remote possibility. However, a spokesman for the company said in Wellington today that its financial commitments to the association would be honoured. The spokesman said: “It has always been the company’s policy not to be associated with sponsorship of events around which there is likely to be any public controversy.

“The world softball series at Lower Hutt in February, to which South Africa and Taiwan have been invited, now falls into this category. “Our policy does not imply any attitude towards the participation or otherwise of these countries. Questions of this nature are not our concern.

“The N.Z.S.A. fully appreci-

sates and understands the reasons for our decision regarding the world series in the present circumstances. The 'company’s financial commitment to the national association in connection with the tournament had already been [met by the time circum- ; stances had altered.” The secretary of the N.Z.S.A. (Mr George Vincent) [ said he could not quibble with [the company’s attitude. “Right from our earliest involvement with Rothman's, thev made it clear that they avoid any contact with [events likely to be controversial. “We understand their reasons for not wanting to have I their name attached to the ! tournament,” he said.