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Thanks Lions

From us all in New Zealand, we thank you, the Lions, for coming to our country and bringing us all so much enjoyment. You were great ambassadors to your country. Warren Gatland had one thing in mind and that was to beat the All Blacks, and he came very, very close. What a shame the series ended in a draw. There should have been a winner not a drawn series, and in my mind, they should have played 15 minutes extra time each way. And then, if it was still a draw, have five penalty shots at goal or whatever it took for each team to have a winner. Over all, the tour was a great success. To all teams the Lions played, hold your heads high, as it made my lounge a greatly entertaining place to be and I, for one, salute you.

Gary Stewart, Foxton Beach

No fair

We notice two league players caught using cocaine recently. Why no letters or texts to the paper condemning their behaviour? I am reminded of the criticism and absolute vitriol towards Sonny Bill Williams for his stance on sponsorship. The present silence is deafening and is symptomatic as to that which is wrong in our society. It was the same when two ex-all Blacks were caught drink driving and doing drugs in France. Silence! Sonny Bill Williams is a wonderful role model for young people to look up to.

Michael Nash, Foxton

Urgent action needed

My provocative comments in my letter (Standard, July 8) would have been better suited to three weeks before, when a lot of people couldn’t fathom why access to the gorge had not been restored given the calm winter weather. I guess few considered the extreme announcement that was to come. It would have been helpful, particularly at the time geo-tech was mentioned, to have it properly explained. Now it must be said that notwithstanding the unpalatable, serious situation that now exists, we must applaud Mr I’anson for sticking to his knitting and discovering a potentially huge slip already, it seems, on its way toward the road. What we must now focus on with great unprecedented urgency is the plight of everyone; Woodville, Ashhurst, commuters and others affected to varying degrees. This is the biggest event to have happened in our local history. It is election year.

Byron Husband, Palmerston North

Horowhenua council concerns

I attended the Horowhenua District Council’s session for the purchasers of the pensioner housing, and invited public, such as care agencies and Grey Power. My motive was to understand why the council would dispose of a much-needed community asset, at what I saw as a bargain price. I have no issue with who the lucky purchasers were, but was concerned about council prudence in financial decision making. I had read Cr Bishop’s article in a local newspaper the previous day, in which he said: ‘‘You have the right to ask questions, you have the ability to seek clarification and share opinions…and we welcome that.’’ I was shocked therefore at his behaviour toward a woman sitting behind me, starting to ask a question relating to Cr Bishop allegedly owning land near the sale land, and being silenced. After some more questions, Cr Judd burst forth with what I experienced as an unjustified attack on ‘‘all of you’’ for ‘‘disrespecting the Sisters’’. I asked for an apology, as most of the audience, like me, had not spoken, so how did Cr Judd know why we were there? Their behaviour seemed to me like a diversion from concerns about the council decision. Cr Bishop told Cr Judd not to apologise. I left feeling intimidated and disgusted.

Deborah Burns, Levin

Clear the gorge

The rocks on the southern side of the Manawatu Gorge have always had unstable sections due to the geology, and while safety is very important, it can’t be an excuse for not getting the road reopened promptly.

There are plenty of options to ❚ I am amazed at the great structures built around the world 1279BC like the Pharaohs temples, and the mind-blowing monuments, palaces and pyramids, just to name a few. However, in 2017, the gorge can’t seem to be fixed. Has anyone thought of a bridge? Oh yes, I believe so, around 72 years ago. ❚ Anyone else noticed how much money has been spent around Hastings and Napier on roading. Must be billions. Perhaps we should ask them for a few tips on how to get money from the Government, for the gorge. ❚ Not much gluten in bread in BC or early AD time. ❚ Those kids that wrecked two school classrooms should be made to clean up the mess they made, not the parents. What the hell is the world coming to? Why are these kids getting away with it? Society has gone to the pack. ❚ The Dutch museum in Foxton needs to be re-named the HDC ratepayers’ and NZ taxpayers’ museum. ❚ Re schools struggling financially. I wonder if they couldn’t done with some of the $27 million irresponsible wasted on the ridiculously unnecessary flag change last year? Of course, the rich Tory supporters couldn’t give a toss, eh? Savs

clear the road without putting people in harm’s way if needed. If the rocks are going to fall at any moment, that moment can be achieved with the likes of using controlled explosives. Some rocks and dirt are going to fall in the river but with less environmental effect if that happens now at winter high-river flow rates, rather than wait to summer low flow levels.

The forestry industry can operate large machinery on steep slopes by remote control at a safe distance, then the roading contractors can utilise the same technology to get back to work.

If the NZTA bureaucrats with their give-up attitude aren’t up to the task then the Government needs to find and pay someone who can get the job done ASAP. With our region and community working on the Accelerate 25 Action plan, each day the gorge is closed is acting as the handbrake on regional growth, as well as a huge cost to our economy and to the environment with the likes of all the extra fuel used.

Gordon Mckellar, Feilding (Abridged)