Sponsorship draws fire

Press, 21 October 1983, Page 18

Sponsorship draws fire

PA Auckland A full-time helicopter rescue service for Auckland, to be launched next week, has drawn fire because of its hefty cigarette sponsorship. The helicopter, sponsored to the tune of $150,000 by the Rothmans Foundation, will advertise Winfield cigarettes, and it is believed its special crew will wear outfits promoting the Winfield brand. It is to be known as the Winfield Regional Rescue Helicopter, and will be launched by the GovernorGeneral, Sir David Beattie, at a ceremony in Aotea Square on October 25.

Anti-smoking campaigners have written to the Governor-General protesting against his involvement with the helicopter. Ms Deirdre Kent, research and education officer for A.S.H. (Action on Smoking and Health), said that as the Queen’s representative it was “irresponsible” for the GovernorGeneral to lend his name to such a venture.

Ms Kent said the helicopter with Winfield painted on it would be flying over beaches where young people were swimming. More than 3600 people died every year through smoking-related diseases, she said.

The anti-smokers’ campaign has come in for strong criticism by the president of the Auckland Surf Life-saving Association, Mr Malcolm Beattie, who revealed details of the helicopter scheme yesterday. A helicopter surf rescue system had been running for 14 years at summer weekends and had saved more than 300 lives, as well as transporting hundreds of accident victims to hospital and carrying out fire-fight-ing work, he said. ‘‘lf it saved 300 lives does it really matter where the sponsor’s name comes from?” he said. “If you asked all the people rescued if they would rather have drowned than accept help, I am sure they would support it.”