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Wool carpet has merit
On a recent visit to the Palmerston North Home Show, I entered the stand of a well known carpet retailer and whilst studying the rolls of carpet I noted that none were made of wool.
On discussion with the salesperson, I enquired about what percentage of wool covering they sold and the salesperson replied that it was approximately 10 per cent and then proceeded to tell me all the reasons that synthetic carpet was more favoured.
The problems with wool floor coverings that were listed were colour fade, staining problems and price. Having spent all my working life in the wool industry, 50-plus years, I left that stand feeling disillusioned.
Why do these salespeople not push the fine qualities of wool carpet being a natural fibre with warmth and also, most importantly, its safety properties?
I recall in the 80s a controlled fire in a room furnished with synthetics where the combustion time was about three minutes. The same scenario, with woollen floor coverings and furnishing fabrics, was approximately double that time before combustion.
As a large number of house fires originate in bedrooms, what price family safety for a few hundred extra dollars?
The New Zealand crossbred wool industry is in dire straits and I agree with Winston Peters that the Government, being the largest landlord in New Zealand, should have a percentage of its commercial and domestic buildings furnished with woollen products. This, in some way, would help our New Zealand crossbred wool grower.
JD Sullivan
Palmerston North
Horowhenua council culture
Apart from the scandal-screaming headline, it was good to see the article on July 29’s Manawatu Standard front page.
It shows that there are, at least, some journalists who recognise the difference between news that is ’’in the public interest’’ and that which is ‘‘of interest to the public’’. The latter is, admittedly, what sells papers and encourages advertisers. It is, however, also the stuff of gossip and half-truths.
To further explore the issue in the public interest, further investigative journalism should explore just why the Horowhenua council culture has become so toxic, when it started to become so and how historical Levin issues have percolated into the culture expressed today.
The irrelevant comments elsewhere in the paper about various earnings of the CEO and the mayor is like comparing apples with pears: The CEO has the responsibility for staff, finances and district-wide infrastructure issues to deal with. The mayor should be focused on policies and electoral matters.
Describing this as a ‘‘power differential’’ based on earnings is wildly inaccurate. The power difference is rooted in that the mayor can freely express his viewpoint publicly. Staff, including the CEO cannot, as all public servants know.
Lone Morris Jorgensen
Tokomaru
Polls bizarre
Where do these polls come from?
Clearly not from Levin, where Labour’s Andrew Little spoke on Friday night to a packed 300-plus audience. He was clear and decisive in laying out Labour’s policies.
This was one of the most outstanding political speeches Levin has heard for a long time.
It’s time for a change with a red tick for Labour party vote and if you live in the Otaki electorate, candidate vote for hardworking local family man Rob Mccann.
Bill Davey
Levin (Eds note: This letter was received before the Labour leadership change)
Anti-catholic politics
Karl du Fresne makes an interesting point in his opinion piece (July 26) that New Zealand politics is not as anti-catholic as Britain’s. But his views regarding the Catholic bishops’ election statement are poorly constructed. ❚ Don’t be so hard on yourself, Robo. There are tunnels in the gorge but it is 2017 and the requirements for a two-lane state highway tunnel are clearly different. ❚ Beats me why the Greens are so high in the polls, after their co-leader stole the govt’s money. It makes you wonder what’s going on in people’s heads, doesn’t it? ❚ Woodville’s still open, yay! Am so pleased to read this in Monday’s paper. Keep your chins up, guys. You ain’t dead yet and never will be. I don’t live there but a great day out is over there. ❚ Please clear the slips in the gorge. We don’t want to be using the alternatives for the next 3-plus years. ❚ Fantastic hosting by Levin Racing Club at races transferred to Awapuni on Monday. Awapuni could learn a lot from them. Well done & thanks, Levin! ❚ Horror Levin crash more evidence that trucks should be made to park off road or better still at a depot. ❚ PN city going back to wards for all. Great councillors will be responsible again for their own patch and do something about issues. Andy. ❚ I’m so annoyed the paths by the river have still not been cleared up properly and it’s still very slippery. I’ve almost fallen over a few times. Not good enough. Jaymes.
He claims the bishops ‘‘disguise their Left leanings behind unsubtle coded signals’’. How so? Regularly, they contribute to public debate and always they steer clear of framing their views through a party-politics window. Affordable housing, fair tax structures, caring for our planet etcetera are neither Right nor Left issues. They are central or integral to a fair and flourishing society.
Similarly, du Fresne chastises the bishops for presuming people turn to them for guidance on how to prepare to vote.
Why scold? Surely du Fresne presumes people turn to him through his opinion piece for guidance or stimulus too?
The bishops’ intention is, in fact, modest. It is an invitation, not a decree, to discussion and debate. Ironically, while du Fresne fears ‘‘Catholic leaders exerting too much influence’’, he lambasts the bishops for not ‘‘nailing their colours to the mast unequivocally’’.
Strange indeed.
James van Schie
Ring (06) 355 8790 or email editor@msl.co.nz
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Executive officer – New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference