Letters, February 9: Display was `tree-riffic'

I would like to express my thanks to those people and sponsors who made "Trees at the Meteor" in Hamilton the great success it was.

To those people who decorated Christmas trees: what a great display of individuality. The displays in the St Peter's Cathedral grounds, the message board, the coffee and hot chocolate served, the bands who played, and the choirs who sang, made for a wonderful atmosphere.

I did enjoy watching the excited looks on children's faces when they saw the donkeys. Obviously many people spent a great deal of time making this event happen. What made this event even more special was that the proceeds from the donations given went to an organisation called Aroha.

This Christian organisation works for the community and also has an outreach programme.

WENDY CRAIG

Hamilton

 

What to do?

Could John Neave tell us what it is he actually expects the Government to do regarding the recent dog attacks (Waikato Times letters, February 2)? I too was horrified with what has happened to the children but what exactly does he want changed given each of these attacks happened with unregistered dogs on private property.

In what way could the Government prevent them, if you consistently have people who feel they have the right to flout the rules? As an owner of two dogs (both registered) I can assure Mr Neave the animal control laws are incredibly restrictive and extremely punitive. I welcome a review of the laws and hopefully some sensible legislation to come out of it. The changes made by the Labour Government have made not a bit of difference but then how could they? Laws fashioned out of emotions will always fail.

Until someone can come up with a way that the people flouting the laws are punished, and punished properly, these sorts of attacks will always happen. It is not good enough to just destroy the dogs – the owners need to be made more responsible for what their dog did. (Abridged)

SUE O'NEILL

Hamilton

 

Stroppy truckies

My daughter (39) has been training for the Rotorua to Taupo 100 kilometre cycle event being held on March 27, 2010. She cannot believe how inconsiderate and stroppy some truck drivers are.

Recently she biked from Western Heights via Temple View, Whatawhata, Ngahinapouri to Te Awamutu, then across to Cambridge and back to Hamilton – about 75km and the number of trucks that passed her so close and a couple that nearly ran her off the road was very scary.

However, Fonterra drivers, she said, were 100 per cent considerate and very courteous. Please truckies, show more respect for cyclists.

HEATHER DUFF

Hamilton

Healthy incentive

At this present time the Government feels it's not a good time to give substantial increases in wages, but because many families are struggling, would it be possible for them to remove the GST from all "perishable" foods like daily bread products, fresh meat and fish, fresh vegetables and seasonable fruits like berries and stone fruits? I'm sure this would be a great help as well as a healthy incentive.

R SMITH

Te Awamutu

Forced to book

The Waikato Times works hard promoting special occasions in Hamilton like the upcoming food, wine, and jazz festival. The prices are reasonable until one is forced to book at Ticketek – they slap on a $6 booking fee.

I feel this is iniquitous. Sub-committee chairperson Maria Westphal "feels the tickets will now be more accessible" – never mind affordable. What planet does she come from?

B A HARTLEY

Hamilton

 

Parking scandal

I am writing regarding the charges for parking at Centre Place in Hamilton.

On January 27 I parked for three hours and was charged $14 which I think is absolutely scandalous.

Before the pay machines were installed the charge would have been $4 to $4.50.

Now there are no personnel to pay salaries – two people at the parking payout – parking should be much cheaper than what is charged now. The owners of this parking building have, like all other businesses, jumped on the band wagon of monetary increases.

No doubt there will be the usual lame excuses.

I think the office of fair trading should look into this scandalous affair.

A J SWINBANK-SLACK

Matamata

 

Loud silence

I find it strange that the daily newspapers, including the Waikato Times, have not reported in depth on the biggest manipulation of humanity since Gobbles and sidekick [Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels].

Up until the end of 2008 most of us believed science, when published, to have been peer reviewed and accurate and believable.

There are now huge amounts of evidence revealing that there has been a blatant intent to deceive us about global warming.

How can anyone trust the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, who have totally ignored the extra activity of the Sun and Moon over the past decade. They should be sacked for playing computer games and let's have science that is not misleading.

The silence from the Times on this important issue has been deafening. A bit more research by the Times to find out what has influenced our climate over the past thousand years would be helpful.

STAN COOK

Hamilton

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