Flow problem

A wonderful dump of rain that fell over the province created a metrewide stream flowing down the main road from the Ranzau Road intersection on the main highway.

Over many years this corner has been dug up with no success to prevent this happening.

A drain should be created so that this large amount of water can be diverted back to the aquifer. There are other areas with this problem. With all the equipment available the TDC is irresponsible in turning a blind eye in not fixing this problem.

Over the years any number of councillors have driven along this highway ignoring this simple job. Many councillors over the years don’t deserve to have been voted in. They have proven to have wasted so much of ratepayers’ money by not attending to simple problems. They could build a dam without borrowing so much money. Their usual excuse is we will learn from this. When? article points out, lawyers will be put ‘‘in an interesting position’’. In other words, they are still likely to use the client confidentiality provision even when there is suspicion of corrupt practices.

This disturbing practice does not just apply to lawyers. Local government is quick to use the same cute excuse. For close on two years members of the Nelson Residents Association have spent many hours attempting to get the release of a letter to Nelson City Council from Christchurch law firm Grant Cameron and Associates.

This letter is known to be a second legal opinion on the irrefutable maligning and badly based original legal opinion that forced the closure of the Trafalgar Centre.

As such, it is of great public interest but sadly, even the Ombudsman’s office, whose motto is ‘‘Fairness for All’’, has repeatedly wheeled out the client confidentiality clause to block what is essentially the people’s property. This offensive behaviour by servants of the people, under the guise of client confidentiality, also needs to be seriously and urgently addressed. Lawyers do not hold a monopoly on wisdom.