TOBACCO CASH FOR AGED HAS LOBBYISTS FUMING

Tobacco cash has been used to support a branch of an organisation which is
dedicated to promoting the quality of life and well-being of older people
and advocates positive healthy ageing.

British American Tobacco, which makes cigarette brands such as Benson &
Hedges and Rothmans, has donated $5000 this year to Flaxmere Age Concern -
one of the Hawke's Bay local Age Concern branches.

It is also giving $5000 this year to the Hawke's Bay coastguard air patrol,
$1000 to Victim Support in Hawke's Bay, $6000 to the Rotary pathway in the
region, and $10,000 to the Art Deco Society in Napier.

The tobacco giant said it was committed to Hawke's Bay because its factory
was based in Ahuriri, but along with the community projects, it has
increased its support of the Life Education Trust - to $150,000 a year.

This year the Sunday Star-Times revealed the firm had donated $100,000 a
year for three years to the trust, an organisation that teaches children
about healthy living.

The donations were labelled inappropriate by the government and shocked
anti-smoking groups, which said schools should reconsider using the trust's
programmes.

Life Education Trust director Trevor Grice defended the donations, saying
its position was not compromised and it needed the money. The tobacco
company has given the organisation more than $500,000.

Anti-smoking groups were concerned by the latest round of donations and
called for important social organisations such as Age Concern and Victim
Support to return the money. But the tobacco firm challenges critics of the
donations to front up with the same amount of cash for the organisations.

Trish Fraser, director of anti-smoking group Ash, said taking money from
the tobacco industry was "totally wrong".

"I know it's very difficult for organisations to get money but I don't
think any needs to be taking money from the tobacco industry."

BAT was improving its public image by being seen to support worthwhile
organisations, Fraser said.

But Flaxmere Age Concern chairman Neil Hatcher, who does not smoke,
defended the donation, saying it was difficult to find funding and the
money would help more than 130 elderly people in the community.

"We're quite prepared to take that sort of criticism (from anti-smoking
groups) on board but how are we going to keep operating? What are they
going to give us?"

Age Concern national chief executive Garth Taylor said he was not aware of
the donation, but said it was up to each branch to find funding. The
organisation had no national policy restricting where donations came from.

BAT spokesman Carrick Graham said the company was committed to Hawke's Bay
and offered assistance to worthwhile community projects. It did not support
schools, religious organisations or sports agencies which had regular
contact with children, despite being asked for assistance.

"Age Concern approached us and were utterly desperate for some sort of
assistance.

"Many of our employees are involved with BATNZ's Hawke's Bay community fund
and it gives them a great feeling to be able to give back to the community.

"If we get attacked we challenge those people to match our donations. If
they are concerned the donations are inappropriate, maybe they'd like to
match our donations instead of criticising from the sidelines."