Letters, February 10: Slow flight for ex-pilot

For his 94th birthday, the family of David Clark of Otorohanga shouted him an unusual present – a trip in a hot-air balloon over the Waikato. Ex-W/Cdr Clark flew many types of aircraft during five years as a member of RAF bomber command in World War II, including two tours of operations, but had never flown in a balloon before. He much enjoyed floating silently over the rural landscape, though the silence was too often interrupted by the loud noise of the gas burners, which maintained the heat in the canopy.

The trip was a completely novel mode of flying to one accustomed to travelling cross-country at high speed.

P H CLARK

Otorohanga

Negative view

It saddens me that such a diatribe as was written by H Lodge ("Just bludgers" Waikato Times, January 25) makes it to print. What a cynical and completely uneducated point of view.

How dare you Mr Lodge make such broad statements about an entire culture based on the actions of a few. For your information I, along with many other Maori I know, work extremely hard, and have been well educated and pay tax. I have read many a letter in the Times and the South Waikato News by Mr Lodge and note he has such a negative point of view about most things. Perhaps his focus needs to be on him as his letter screams prejudice if not straight-out racism.

Perhaps Mr Lodge could try affirming the positives about Maori, as there are many, and when taking issue with something he could try being constructive with his criticisms by offering solutions and support.

REBECCA JOHNSON

Hamilton

ACC frustration

I am writing to air my view on the ACC changes, particularly for motorcyclists. I find it frustrating that after several (possibly 10) years of going on about proposed tax cuts, when they finally got around to it, they now want it all back, plus some via ACC hikes. I have a small car for towing my small boat and for use on wet days. I have a 50cc scooter to save petrol and lessen the carbon footprint, and I have a 1000cc motorcycle for sunny weekend rides. The only ACC claims I've had are work-related.

I also have a classic car currently deregistered and a classic 350cc motorcycle also currently deregistered. No-one other than me uses any of these vehicles.

My point is: how much ACC should one person be paying?

Frankly I think each individual in New Zealand should be paying their share of ACC and not me paying for all manner of things which are covered by ACC but which actually pay in little or none – for example, rugby, soccer, skateboarding, snowboarding, farming, BMX, mountainbiking, motocross, rock climbing. (Abridged)

PAT McCREESH

Hamilton

Big not best

In reply to Doug Stone's letter (Waikato Times, January 18): he has it all wrong to think eight mayors at $100,000 could save $700,000 with only one mayor.

You will find in a couple of years the mayor and town clerk will be on a $1 million wage as they will say look at all the money coming in, in rates, which requires high-paid management.

My cousin, an ex mayor in England, said they were now going back to smaller councils, having found out the large councils didn't work as well as previously.

I don't know what the hidden agenda is with the one Waikato council, and in a few years' time I don't want to say I told you so.

Waikato ratepayers, wake up – every town is different and requires different governance.

KEITH BRAWN

Te Awamutu

 

Maori charge

On January 16 the Waikato Times carried an article that Environment Waikato was paying Maori many thousands of dollars – ratepayers' money – for Maori to attend meetings.

During the past few years we the Moriori people have attended a number of meetings with Environment Waikato. Not once have we the Moriori people been paid to attend any meetings with Environment Waikato.

Considering Maori were not the first to settle the Waikato, the question must be put: why pay Maori anything?

N RANGA

Taupiri

 

Essential facility

I am devastated to hear Hamilton's Te Hurihanga is closing. It is tragic and unbelievably short-sighted.

As an accountant I am not unaware of cost. But I would ask what is the cost of keeping somebody in jail for 10 years? For many of the youth going through Te Hurihanga this is a possibility without this course. Not to mention the unquantifiable costs to the victims of their crimes.

I am sure Prime Minister John Key can see this economic logic.

I hope Hamilton takes on the Government on this one.

Such facilities are essential.

After spending the last year in England and seeing at first hand what has happened to this society with its ever-growing dysfunctional under-class and booze-sodden unemployed feral youth, I am even more convinced of the need for programmes such as Te Hurihanga provided.

Te Hurihanga was a wonderful example of how people with vision such as Judge Carolyn Henwood and Stephen Tindall (and the Diocese of Waikato) could make leading social reform happen.

Another of the many inexplicable things about the Government's decision to close Te Hurihanga is that it seems to be at odds with the National Party's supposed commitment to supporting private enterprise. (Abridged)

RUSSELL ARMITAGE

West Midlands, England

What's in a name?

I agree, changing the name (Auckland Anniversary Day) and not the day is the best option (Waikato Times, February 2).

My reason being that many Hamiltonians have family and friends in or around Auckland who they regularly meet up with for the long weekend.

The two areas are close enough to be able to do this without too much expense or lengthy travelling time.

Change the day to the 30th if they want a different day, just so long as it comes on the same weekend – the nearest Monday to the 30th.

JOE CUNNINGHAM

Hamilton

- © Fairfax NZ News