Letters, March 3: Catering contracts

It is time for some facts on catering contracts.

In early 2001 the Waikato Stadium Trust called for applications for the contract at the stadium and two were received, one of those from Montana.

A committee of four trustees and council CEO Tony Marryatt (appointed as required by council) interviewed both applicants.

John Parker (deputy chairman) and I voted for the unsuccessful candidate and on the effective casting vote of Marryatt, Montana, owned by interests associated with Peter Stark and Dallas Fisher, was selected.

I led [trust] negotiations with Montana which culminated in Montana agreeing to make a contribution of an indicative amount of $500,000 towards the kitchen fit out.

In January 2002 Marryatt withheld an amount of $1.04 million owing to the trust and, on page 161 of my book Making a Stand, I identified total funding available of at least $8.04 million lost to the project as a result of the orchestrated activities of a destructive and self-centred group of bureaucrats politicians and businessmen. My book can be accessed at davidb@smf.co.nz.

Following the withdrawal of the council's committed funds by Marryatt the project was taken over by the council, no new tenders called for and the obligation from Montana to make a contribution to the fitout withdrawn.

The public is right to be concerned about the processes followed in awarding contracts to Montana for the Stadium, the V8s, Seddon Park and Claudelands.

DAVID BRAITHWAITE

Former mayor and trust chairman

Hamilton

 

Recycling guises

I was walking early one morning and noted that most recycling bins out for emptying were less than half full.

The recycling truck stops at each bin. If the bins were only put out when they were full, there would be fewer stops and the trucks would get round faster, and save gas and time.

Let's think laterally about recycling and carbon footprint, and put out full bins, full rubbish bags, and full boxes.

JULIE JACKSON-GOUGH

Hamilton

 

Touch a nerve

Oops, I do seem to have touched a nerve, sorry Ed Roggeveen. (Waikato Times, February 20)

My views on ambition have been somewhat misunderstood, after all, I assume that it was ambition of a sort that changed mankind from being cave-dwelling, hunter-gatherers precariously co-existing with other species, many now, unfortunately extinct, to the enlightened, though somewhat greedy species that we are today.

No doubt about it, ambition can be an admirable virtue, however, I would point out that Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin, George Bush and Atilla the Hun could all be said to be ambitious and look what a mess they made.

Regarding the amassing of possessions, whether or not necessary, fine by me, as long as people can afford them without getting deep in debt. After all, the manufacture, distribution and sale of such things gives work to many.

As for Smiling, Slippery Sam, sorry, John Key, having visions is highly commendable, (sic St Joan of Arc and various other saintly personages) but what have the Prime Minister and his party actually done?

The advice given by Mr Roggeveen to his children is very good and much the same that we gave to our four children, all of whom, have tertiary qualifications and are gainfully employed. (Abridged)

MARGARET FREKE

Hamilton

 

Double standards

I was reading (Waikato Times, January 28) that Tony Petch from Environment Waikato explained that nitrate levels 16 times less than in drinking water was disastrous for the environment, and caused extreme algae-growth.

This nitrate, we are told, is due to excessive use of fertilisers leaching in the rivers yet I had a bore test done last year and no nitrate was found in the test.

A couple years ago a truck full of urea fell in the Waikato river. EW (the same department) told us it was no harm to the environment, as it dilutes and turns into ammonia.

They try to confuse us with science.

I care for the environment and how my grand kids will cope in the future. That's why we have to stop these bullies now. They are lying and work with double standards. Time will tell how long we can afford those suckers. (Abridged)

P SPITTERS

Te Aroha

 

New order

Stan Cook's letter (Waikato Times, February 9) with its timely warning against the avalanche of evidential misinformation, sustaining the claims of the "global warming cult"; does indeed make a strong point-of-parallel with the sinister aims and methods of the Third Reich of last century.

The modus-operandi of that devilish group was to create false problems, and then to supply equally false solutions. Their anti-semitic stand was driven by Darwinistic dogma as they strove to produce a "super race" of humans who would inhabit a world that allows plenty of room (Lebensraum) for the inhabitants to move and breathe more easily.

Could we be seeing now the aims of this latest "new order" group to be aiming to reduce populations, which in turn would reduce ozone depletions?

GLYWN MCINNES

Hamilton

 

Another handout

Paul Evans-McLeod for Prime Minister – your letter (Waikato Times, February 23) deserves national coverage.

It is way past time Maori stopped claiming their "rights" and did something about their "responsibilities".

There were no alphabetical Maori words before the white man came, how can you claim words are spelt wrong now?

There were enough people in that house to know who killed the Kahui twins, how can there be mana in hiding those responsible?

Paul Evans-McLeod got it right, look to yourselves to improve your standards.

Self esteem won't come from another handout.

D WHITE

Matamata

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