Right to Decide criticises anti-smoking protest

Press, 2 November 1989, Page 6

Right to Decide criticises anti-smoking protest

By

TOM METCALFE

A sponsorship rights group, New Zealanders for the Right to Decide, has criticised the protest of an anti-smoking group at the opening of the Grand Traverse endurance race. Action on Smoking and Health (A.S.H.) protested at the opening on Tuesday because of an alleged link between one of the sponsors of the race and a French cigarette company. A spokesman for New Zealand for the Right to Decide, Mrs Sue Hunt, said last evening that minority groups like A.S.H. wanted to destroy sports and arts

in this country for the sake of getting their own way. The international publicity the event would generate could only be good for New Zealand’s tourism industry, one of the biggest earners of overseas revenue, she said. New Zealanders for the Right to Decide had about 100 members who represented thousands, she said.’ “Our group is fighting for the freedom of adult New Zealanders not to have legislation imposed that dictates how they must run their lives and what information they may receive about legal

products.” The news media coverage of the A.S.H. protest was deplorable when there were many exciting opportunities in the Grand Traverse. International television coverage would show strong, healthy people struggling against the forces of a spectacular natural backdrop. “It really does not matter who sponsors and organises the event.” “What matters is the chance it offers for good, clean competition, and for the promotion of New Zealand,” she said.