Letters, January 26: Extra cost to shoppers

Waikato Times

Recent articles have commented on ways to encourage people back into Hamilton's central business district, as it is apparent more are going out to the Base (Te Rapa) for shopping.

Recently my wife and I spent 3 hours 15 minutes at Centre Place and were charged $14 (parking) for the privilege. No wonder people go out to the suburbs, where the parking is free.

B ANSON

Hamilton

Parking madness

As a regular visitor to Hamilton the other day I parked in the Centre Place parking building and I did my shopping. I went back after 4 1/2 hours and was shocked to be charged a fee of $18.

Until recently it would have been about $10 and I was told at the reception desk nearby that the price for parking had recently gone up.

Are the people who run this car park mad?

Or are they mercenary thieves or both?

Where is the sense in increasing the parking fees and driving people away from the central city exactly when the businesses are trying to again attract customers back into the city? Last year the staff who collected the fees were dispensed with and therefore there should be more reason for lowering the fees or at least stabilising them.

Why on earth would I return to pay almost twice what I used to?

There is some sort of discount system if you shop in Centre Place, but it's just as shonky and a real con.

Come on guys, get a little sense and some fair play otherwise you'll have an empty carpark and fair enough too. (Abridged)

HILTON WOODROOFE

Matamata

Angela Young, Centre Place marketing manager, replies: I would like to encourage Mr Woodroofe to contact Centre Place directly and maybe we could clarify his issues. We are currently running a successful new promotion over the summer holidays whereby if a customer spends $10 in Centre Place, including our shopping centre across the road, formerly known as Downtown Plaza, they will receive two hours' free parking from Monday to Friday in the Centre Place car park located off Bryce St. There is also free parking from 6pm onwards to enjoy a movie at either of our movie operators – Sky City or the Lido. Plus four hours' free parking at weekends with a $10 spend. Customers need to validate their tickets at our customer service desk during trading hours with proof of purchase on the day.

When Mr Woodroofe entered our car park he would have passed a large sign stating the terms and conditions of the promotion as well as the rates charged that would be incurred in conjunction with the free parking.

We have also advertised this promotion extensively at Centre Place, on radio stations and billboards, and in the Waikato Times. (Abridged)

Speech disorder

Jane Bowron's column "Time TV kids were not seen or heard" (Waikato Times, January 16) cannot, of course, go unanswered.

While the documentary (on children with selective mutism) may not have been the most gripping viewing of the evening, and the direct questioning style to the children obviously inappropriate, it did serve to highlight the very real condition of selective mutism (SM).

SM (note the correct spelling above) is a well-documented disorder, affecting between one and seven out of 1000 of our children and young people. About 20 to 30 cent of children with SM have concomitant speech or language disorders.

Contrary to popular belief, people suffering from SM do not necessarily improve with age or just grow out of it and we are on a slippery slope when we attempt to rate individuals suffering on a sliding scale to determine who is deserving of treatment. Speech language therapists and psychologists support children and young people with SM because the impact of the disorder on their social participation is significant and in most cases far-reaching.

As involved professionals we consider that we are neither falling over ourselves to be politically correct, nor using namby-pamby kid gloves – we are implementing evidence-based treatment methods in a holistic and respectful manner to promote communication, understanding and ultimately well-being.

SHIRLEY DE BEER

Speech language therapist

Hamilton

Who makes money

Bryan Walker's article on sustainable energy generation makes some good points (Waikato Times, January 19).

However, as with so many issues related to provision of public services and utilities, the basic question all of us should ask is, who's making money out of it?

Maybe the Times could do us a service and publish an analysis on just who profits, and how much, from providing energy in this country?

STAN JONES

Hamilton

Bible a miracle

Steve Inness (Waikato Times, January 13) pointed to the miracle that is the Bible.

Written over a long period by many persons, it continues to have an impact for good wherever its teachings are followed.

It makes certain claims, is harmonious and unified in its messages. It's the best-selling book of all time.

Many atheists' beliefs are irrational. Atheists confuse rationality, irrationality and non-rationality.

They make presuppositions despite the evidence yet they claim to be free thinkers.

For example, they suppose that no-one made something (the universe) out of nothing.

Forms, they say, are nothing but products of irrational forces acting on mindless matter and energy in an unguided way. Is that rational? Blind faith?

Sudakam Hewsen: there are civil and moral laws.

Atheists don't have a moral law-giver. Also atheists believe morality is relative – so how do they know Hitler's acts are wrong?

Dennis Pennefather (Waikato Times, January 15): belief or non-belief in God's existence affects the way we live. Ask the atheists who are advertising on buses.

Also Christian belief explains the vital questions regarding our origin, identity, meaning, morality and destiny. Is Mr Pennefather just a collection of sub-atoms? That's meaningless, irrational, ontological reductionism.

JOHN FONG

Hamilton