Letters, February 17: City set on ghost town

So, the Hamilton City Council is apparently favourably considering a new hi-tech parking monitoring system (Waikato Times, February 6). In its full capability this system will identify the car registration number, it will sense when you park the car and – wonder of wonders – it will automatically issue a parking infringement ticket when the meter runs out.

Amazing isn't it? I am slowly developing a grudging admiration for the determination and rigour with which the council is pursuing its objective of turning the centre of Hamilton into a ghost town.

There must be something strong in the water at the council headquarters for them to think this sort of craziness is likely to help the city shopkeepers. If lynchings were legal, I have no doubt the city shopkeepers would have every reason to lynch a few councillors for what could only be considered commercial terrorism.

BARRY BOURKE

Hamilton

Tax rort

National's recently announced tax plans show the Government intends to make life much more difficult for most New Zealanders.

It is confident that since so many of those whom increased GST will harm were stupid enough to vote for it, then they're stupid enough to accept this rort and the dishonest double-speak John Key is using to try to justify it. Maybe they are.

RICHARD SELINKOFF

Hamilton

Pool problems

I was interested to read the article regarding the algae problems found in pools around Hamilton (Waikato Times, February 8).

We are a Hamilton pool and spa shop and have had a lot of customers coming in lately with these problems.

We tested the phosphate levels in these pools (phosphate is what the algae eat) and found the levels extremely high in many cases.

We recommend customers keep the pH levels in the lower 7s. We also recommend an algaecide as well as phosphate remover be poured into the pool. This will assist the chlorine in sanitising the pool, enabling the sanitiser to last longer.

More than anything I recommend pool water be professionally tested, ensuring the overall water balance and sanitisation levels are maintained.

We will do water tests for free. (Abridged)

KIM ROBERTS

General manager

Waikato Filtration Services

Hamilton

Dog control

Sue O'Neill (Waikato Times letters, February 9) seems to have missed the point of my letter.

She does agree that a review of the laws is needed, that law-breakers should be punished and dog owners made responsible for their dogs' misbehaviour.

However, I don't claim to have an answer to the problem of dog attacks: I pay taxes to help support a sizeable army of pen-pushers and politicians to sort out the details.

What I question is the casual attitude of those responsible for formulating these laws – we are told that a review will take place "next year".

Shouldn't this matter be given urgency?

How many more children are to be savaged before Messrs Hide and Co find time to do something about it?

JOHN NEAVE

Hamilton

Holiday surcharge

On Saturday, February 6, Waitangi Day (a public holiday), I went to a local restaurant for a meal. At the end I was presented with a bill and the proprietor proceeded to add an additional 15 per cent to the bill when I went to pay. After some discussion, I paid but felt horribly ripped off.

While this is a practice at many eating outlets, my gripe was that I was not advised verbally or in writing on the menu or elsewhere, that this would occur.

Knowing this before entering the premises or ordering a meal, I may have left because there were outlets elsewhere not adopting this surcharge practice.

I can't stop the surcharge being applied but do proprietors have a legal obligation to advise that the surcharge will apply?

If not, then this whole practice is a rort.

ANDY COSTAIN

Hamilton

Flag burning

We witnessed an appalling act of vandalism on national television on Waitangi Day. I refer to the burning of our national flag by a person who claimed to be a member of the Republican Party.

What right has he to desecrate our national flag?

Countless numbers of our forebears fought and died under this flag.

We should honour their sacrifices.

This is surely an act of treason and the person responsible should be brought to justice.

D W COLLINS

President

Hamilton Grey Power

Righting wrongs

It was interesting to see a letter (Waikato Times, February 10) from a living descendant of the Moriori people (the undisputed first indigenous people of New Zealand) commenting that they have never been reimbursed by Environment Waikato for attending any meetings, unlike the modern Maori. Why is this?

Maybe it is because there are so few Moriori descendants left that their voice isn't being heard.

Maybe it might be time for Moriori to start claiming from Maori for the historical wrong-doings to them just like the Maori are claiming from the people of New Zealand.

Are we the only country that is trying to rectify history with an open chequebook?

What about invaders and conquerors of other countries, are they being asked for rectification? Is New Zealand different because our history is so short?

SUZANNE TROLOVE

Hamilton

Editor's note

A letter published on February 9 from Hamilton's Wendy Craig named the beneficiary of the successful "Trees at the Meteor" event as an organisation called Aroha. In fact, the organisation which received money raised was A Rocha, a Christian nature conservation organisation which focuses on science and research, practical conservation and environmental education. The Waikato Times apologises for the error.

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