OnPoint by Keith Ng

Read Post

OnPoint: Astrotobacco

56 Responses

First ←Older Page 1 2 3 Newer→ Last

  • Russell Brown,

    The text of the infamous letter from British American Tobacco is as follows:

    Dear Mr Dunne,

    Paul Adams has asked me to send you the enclosed £100 to help pay for your "Awayday". I do hope you will enjoy yourselves.

    If at all possible, I should be grateful if you could get receipts for your expenses and pass them on to the driver - even large companies have to account for their money!

    Enjoy your visit to England.

    Yours Sincerely,

    Jean Macy
    Secretary to Paul Adams

    Lunch and a driver.

    And I daresay you could go roughly as far as Paul Litterick did, but not as far as Matt Robson did in writing that "The liquor industry's support for Peter Dunne, as with that of tobacco, has always meant that he has faithfully delivered his vote for their interests." That got him hauled before the Privileges Committee.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    a case of robbing salt- peter to pay pall -bearers?
    Fag ends anyone

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Paul Adams has asked me to send you the enclosed £100 to help pay for your "Awayday". I do hope you will enjoy yourselves.

    100 pounds gets you influence over a prominent MP? Have we become that cheap?

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    100 pounds gets you influence over a prominent MP? Have we become that cheap?

    One of the depressing features of New Zealand political life is that our politicians don't even try to keep us entertained with the really tasty sleaze and squalor our compatriots elsewhere in the Anglosphere enjoy on a near-daily basis.

    Bad show, folks, with all these discreet divorces, buying bad wine on ministerial credit cards at party conferences and not a freshly dug moat to be seen... I culturally cringe at the all-round lack of effort.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Have we become that cheap?

    It's probably the flattery of any attention at all rather than the size of it

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    I don't think it's a matter of cheapness. I reckon many who would reject a million dollar bribe as an insult to their ethical standards would still have warm feelings towards someone who provides a kind word and a nice day out. People are funny like that.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

First ←Older Page 1 2 3 Newer→ Last

Post your response…

Please sign in using your Public Address credentials…

Login

You may also create an account or retrieve your password.