Forget RNZ woes; what about our hospitals?

THE banner headline (ODT, 28.3.18) headed a story which described Carol Hirschfeld’s resignation from RNZ, Clare Curran’s ‘‘wrongdoing’’ in meeting with Ms Hirschfeld in a Wellington cafe and Opposition leader Simon Bridges ‘‘questioning Ms Curran’s integrity’’.

It seems surprising that this admittedly illadvised episode has been given so much prominence when another emerging political story of far greater consequence has received no mention in the ODT this week. I refer to the extent to which, under the watch of the previous government, the health service was starved of resources to the point some hospitals are now crumbling and are potentially unsafe and some important services appear not to be sustainable.

It seems district health boards were required to report surpluses and negative reporting was not tolerated by the previous minister of health, Dr Jonathan Coleman, who is now refusing to front up to explain his approach. How arrogant of Mr Bridges to question Ms Curran’s integrity when, under his colleague’s oversight, our much valued health service has been virtually brought to its knees and how disappointing that the ODT has not questioned the integrity of the previous government and its health minister.

Ms Curran has acknowledged that she made a mistake. Dr Coleman is simply moving on to greener pastures. Jim Mann

Waverley

The beauty of cricket

JOE Bennett in his ‘‘Sleeping Dogs’’ column (ODT, 29.3.18), quite apart from his justified railing at the Australians for their behaviour, so beautifully encapsulates the true value of cricket that copies of it should be framed and hung in every cricket pavilion and be required reading by anyone wishing to participate in the game.

To play it made Joe happy.

Me too. Lindsay Bartlett

Halfway Bush POWERFUL and moving stuff about cricket by Joe Bennett (ODT, 29.3.18), but he forgot to mention manufactured results, particularly in the 20over game.

Take the recent EnglandNew Zealand fivematch series. A win for New Zealand in game four would mean a fifth match would be needed to decide the winner of the series. The result — great entertainment and a lucrative gate.

But, as the saying goes, it wasn’t cricket — a succession of English players throwing their wickets away, followed by easy catches dropped by English players when New Zealand batted. Noone complained, spectators went home happy.

Ball tampering has been going on for years, so has sledging.

What’s the big deal that requires professional players to be banned from the game? A fine would have been adequate. I. Williams

Dunedin

DON’T tar all Aussies with the same brush. Our nation is appalled at the behaviour of all cricketers with their continual sledging, and deeply ashamed over the actions of the three balltamperers.

All of my friends would have immediately sacked those three on the spot, for life. Kerry Herron

Queensland

Easter editorial

HOW refreshing was the Easter editorial by Fr Michael Dooley. Simple, real and encouraging. Winton Davies

Wanaka

Fluoride benefits

ONCE again I ask the question: have those opposing fluoridation actually read the highly positive, robust scientific research? It’s a bit like de´ja` vu — all over again. J. Park

Wakari