Council rejects motor rally

Press, 16 June 1988, Page 4

Council rejects motor rally

PA Auckland Waitemata City councillors have rejected a proposal to hold part of a tobacco company-spon-sored motor rally within the municipality. The council, which earlier in the same month banned smoking in public places, had been asked to close Lone Kauri Rd, Karekare, for a two-hour special stage in this year’s Rothmans Rally of New Zealand. Although the council works committee clerk, Mr John Powell, recommended that the rally organisers’ request be granted, the committee voted unanimously against the road closure on Tuesday evening. The rally, which will be the eighth round of the world championship, as well as round one of the Asian and Pacific championship, is to be held next month under the auspices of the sport’s governing body, the Federation Internationale Automobile.

Rally organisers told the committee that a doctor would be in attendance during the special stage, and race marshalls

in full radio communication with rally headquarters would ensure the safety of spectators. A $1 million insurance cover would be taken out in case of accidental damage caused by the 60 cars expected to take part in the event. The Waitemata City deputy mayor, Mr Gary Taylor, was less than impressed with the prospect of a tobacco-powered motor rally in the city., Approving the request, he said, would be "inconsistent and a double standard.” He said: “We are a council concerned with community health, and we have banned smoking. The sponsor of the rally is a cigarette company which kills people with its products.” “I think it would be quite inappropriate to support the rally.” Mr Taylor said diseases directly attributable to smoking killed 70 Waitemata residents a year. Before the meeting, the chairman of tlie rally committee, Mr Morrie Chandler, said he did not see any connection between the smoking ban and the rally. ■