Letters, November 9: Don't blame your coach

Here we go again: New Zealand cricketers blaming, and wanting to get rid of, their coach (Andy Moles). It is about time these players woke up to the fact they are professionals and represent their country.

 

They got rid of Glen Turner who was one of our greats, because they did not like being told anything.

If NZ Cricket wants to save money, why bother with paying for a coach as these prima donnas know it all. I, like many others, think it's about time these players had a good hard look at themselves.

In our day you listened to the coach or you would be stood down.

Also, these past players who go into broadcasting and TV need to have a think too.

There is only the odd one or two who realise what's happening.

Players: get your act together, do the job you are paid to do.

Rugby is as bad, every week we see 2-3 players on the field and 20-25 refs.

It is a wonder anybody wants to be a coach, referee or umpire.

Come on players, sharpen up your footwork and do what you are paid to do and that is play the game and leave everything else to the powers that be and we could possibly have a winning team.

K F SMITH

Tokoroa

Tidy up the town

Great idea to have a Maori warrior for Ngaruawahia, except the town needs to be tidied up first.

That town could be a real tourist mecca with the marae, lovely river views and the proximity of it (the town). It could be better than Tirau.

Do the people who live there have no pride? It wouldn't take much if everyone got together and sorted the place out.

Have something to be proud of you residents of Ngaruawahia. Make it somewhere people would want to stop. They certainly don't want to at the moment.

You can do it.

M MacFARLANE

Hamilton

ACC concept

We have had accident compensation so long now that the original concept has been lost and the Accident Compensation Corporation has become simply a department which hands out money.

The original scheme was insurance – that is, the premiums would cover the claims.

The actuary has done his job; the result being the bikies are faced with a hefty increase in their premiums.

And so are most people.

The day would have arrived when the claims would have exceeded the premium, even if the Government had not meddled.

Privatisation of workplace accidents brings back all the pre ACC circus plus a lot more.

GORDON EASTICK

Hamilton

Topsy-turvy land

Alice would be at home in the topsy-turvy wonderland New Zealand has become.

Chief executives of councils and other organisations are awarded massive pay rises equal to the annual salaries of those of us in the real world.

In our topsy-turvy wonderland, the political process has its hands around the throat of democracy.

The proposed Variation 13 has been around for a long time. The Hamilton City Council seems unable to make up its mind and now its own consultant has resigned because of its stonewalling.

Te Hurihanga supporters anticipate the death of Variation 13 and the Hillcrest Action Group is "very concerned" by the resignation.

"Concern" is an understatement. Of those who made submissions in respect of Variation 13, the majority supported it. Have their views been respected by the council? Not yet. The council apparently seems in awe of the minority submitters and their big-talking free-wheeling lawyers, and needs to work behind closed doors, and seek further advice.

The process is cause for alarm, not mere "concern".

Come on councillors. Get out of your back rooms and closed meetings and make a decision. Give democracy a chance to breathe. Wonderland may be an illusion but democracy should not be.

JOHN WILLIAMS

Hamilton

Mere mortals

In reply to Bill Hay's letter regarding the tragic death of toddler Aisling Symes and so-called "poor parenting skills" (Waikato Times, October 24):

Being a busy mother of three and stepmother to three more children and a fulltime university student studying at Waikato University, I know how busy one gets as a parent, and it is true, we actually can't watch them 24/7.

But to slam these people as having "poor parenting skills" because they let her outside in the rain?

Heaven forbid, Mr Hay, just as well you never drove past our house and saw three of our children playing outside, in the rain, in a huge puddle in our paddock.

Little Aisling's parents will live with this tragic accident for the rest of their lives, reliving the "what ifs" and "if onlys" and the last thing they need is to be slammed as having "poor parenting skills" by the likes of you, Mr Hay.

It must be nice to live in the perfect bubble world you live in, Mr Hay.

Unfortunately the rest of us are mere mortals who make mistakes, mess up big time and live with the consequences for the rest of our lives. At times like these, sympathy, compassion and love are required, not blame, condemnation and criticism.

YVONNE CLARK

Hamilton

Media standards

Our mass media tell us with monotonous regularity that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Next thing you know the same media carry advertisements for such products – that is, $280 worth of product for just $40 and available to the first people to respond.

Then others do not ever inform you of the actual price, unless you ring the 0800 or 0508 number.

The media run stories on counterfeit products too. Is this a good look for media which claim or wish to have standards?

Does reputation have any impact on the stories featured, or maybe it's some other motivating force?

Response to this matter could make fascinating reading.

BOB MORTON

Hamilton

Editor's note: I'd be happy to respond if Mr Morton had specifics. We have investigated advertisers' claims in the past, and have a low rate of complaint against the advertisements we carry.

- © Fairfax NZ News