Let evolution take its course with species Empty shops

At a recent talk, a speaker from a group trying to eradicate predators predicted that we would be free of predators by 2050 — that I doubt very much, attempting it is folly and far too expensive.

Since life first began on Earth 99.9 per cent of life has become extinct, it is the natural way of things. Evolution is to blame.

We are spending a small fortune attempting to remove rats, weasels, stoats, and possums, to preserve a few flightless birds — many of which are killed by domestic cats.

Surely it would be more practical to preserve the vulnerable creatures in a zoo or other safe habitat and let nature and evolution handle the rest, as opposed to trying to kill off millions of predators by covering our beautiful country with dangerous poisons.

Spending all the money raised on maybe keeping just one island predator-free would make much more sense than hoping to treat the whole country — much of which is uninhabited and difficult to negotiate.

While house sales are soaring in the city, as an owner of a commercial real estate firm for 55 years in Rotorua, my concern is for the owners of empty shops— particularly on leasehold land.

They have ground rents to meet of about $25,000 a year, rates and probably a small mortgage to meet— and no income. These investors are small family concerns who invested to protect some income for their later years and with the idea they could house successful businesses over the years. Some

thought should be given to their plight.

Alf Hoyle

Rotorua