No virtue in giving away money — even for a worthy cause

With the passing of the Domestic Violence Victims Protection Bill our Winston appointed Government has committed an act of violence against all small business owners, who make up 97 per cent of business enterprises and employ 29 per cent of all employees. When will these misguided fools understand that you cannot spend what you do not earn?

It must be time to close my business and go on the dole. Let’s all stop working and expect someone else to pay our bills.

No matter how worthy the cause may be there is no virtue in giving away money that does not belong to you.

Mark McCluskey, Red Beach Child abuse

For how many decades have we been hearing of Catholic priests abusing young children? I am sure we shall continue to hear of such like in the present and near future. As long as the archaic law requiring celibacy of priests and nuns exists, our children may be at risk of being molested.

Why is this being allowed to continue? What is going to protect the children?

Andrea Dorn, Meadowbank Not in their backyard

The Nimbys have prevented a charity concert taking place at Eden Park. Others have prevented the establishment of a chicken farm near Dargaville.

So these dogs in the manger prevent a lot of people being able to enjoy a concert and the creation of jobs and possibly slightly cheaper chickens. Just so their tiny parochial vested interests can be satisfied.

Nick Hamilton, Remuera Voice for Life

Never have I been more disgusted than when I saw what Voice For Life had done.

There are exactly 13,285 reasons why this graphic display should not have been allowed, starting with one: it is none of your business.

You don’t know what these women are going through or what their personal circumstances are. How dare they believe it is socially acceptable to put baby booties in a public place! Banning abortions would force women to have a backstreet abortion or try to do it at home, equally as dangerous.

Funny how so many say “I’m pro-life” but, as soon as the baby is born, criticise the mother for having to raise it in a bad situation. If you’re that concerned about the welfare of the child, where are you when the adoption comes through? When women wanted free contraception so they didn’t need abortions?

You don’t know the circumstances, you have no right to judge.

Bea Green, West Harbour Howard’s way

John Howard gives the National Party Conference a pep talk on the vagaries of election outcomes. How appropriate.

This of course is the same John Howard, former Australian Prime Minister, who — desperate to win the 2001 federal election — claimed that the Tampa refugees threw their children into the sea.

We can only speculate on the future veracity of National’s electoral utterances when they invite such a politician to address them.

National would have been better served by having Robert Mugabe give an address on one-party state government.

All we’ve heard from the National Party since the last election are claims that “we was robbed” and “we are the biggest Party in Parliament”.

Clearly a party that only believes in one party government.

Graeme Samson, Whanga¯ rei Church wealth

With their huge wealth and large land holdings can the Anglican and Catholic Church and other churches be doing more to solve the housing crisis?

Perhaps some co-ordination is required. The old saying “charity begins at home”?

Bruce Tubb, Belmont