Rothmans berates anti-smokers

Press, 22 October 1980, Page 25

Rothmans berates anti-smokers

The ani-smoking lobby is reproved in the Rothmans Industries Ltd annual report to shareholders. J The chairman (Mr K. D. Rutland) says that Government and other agencies, : encouraged by anti-smoking activists, are moving the; emphasis of their -propaganda away from their original contention that smoking is harmful to smokers, to emotional claims about the effect of smoking in public areas upon non-smokers and to other publicity denigrating smokers in social situations.

Users of tobacco are entitled to know that the weight of scientific evidence is that ambient cigarette smoke is not harmful to! others, he says. About one-third of New Zealand’s adult population smoke and enjoy tobacco, Mr Butland says, and during the 12 months to June, 1981, this beleagured group will contribute about $l5O million to the public purse. It is small wonder, he says, that smokers are now voicing their resentment at the extent of the penal levies of which they are subjected and the constant attempts to influence their freedom of choice.

Elsewhere in the report he; says that the return from! the company’s non-tobaccol activities contributed an in-> creasing- proportion of the! overall result (up 16.8 per} cent to $6.8 million), ’ This trend will continue,! he says. Other Points !

Other points from the report:—

Export wine sales in-1 creased by 50 per cent dur-, ing the year. Peros Ltd returned to pro-; fitability at record levels. ’ The return on average : shareholders’ funds was 17.3 per cent for the year ended' June 30 compared with 17.1 per cent for the previous; year. The current ratio remained steady at 1.9:1.