Brexiteers left behind as history marches on

Amen to Robert Patman’s ‘‘Brexiteers rewriting history’’ (World, February 10). He cites Churchill’s support for European unity.

Boris Johnson and his cavalry are wantonly unaware of such ‘evidence’, although it is just a few trots away in the House of Commons Library. Churchill saw no threat to UK sovereignty. Rather, he spoke of ‘‘(the) merger of national sovereignty as the gradual assumption by all the nations concerned of that larger sovereignty which can alone protect their diverse and distinctive customs and … national traditions’’.

Margaret Thatcher’s relentless carping on about EU membership gave her cabinet colleagues the chance to topple her. Prime Minister Theresa May, mindful of Thatcher’s fate and busy watching her back, is sounding not only her own last hoorah but Britain’s too.

The UK’s Commonwealth allies have long discarded the Brexiteers’ version of history. They have moved on. The UK should too.

Rita Ricketts, Wellington

1951 lock-out

Thousands of older Kiwis would have had their hackles raised by the clue to six down in last week’s Quick Crossword – PM during the 1951 waterfront ‘‘strike’’? It was, to many, a lockout. And Sid Holland and his government’s handling of it was disgusting then and would be unconscionable now.

Tony Potter, Auckland

Heed Hinema

Re Hinemoa Elder’s proverb on February 10, ‘‘When everyone does their part, the work will be completed’’, the Government is doing its part to stop smoking and prevent obesity. If everyone doesn’t do their part, who is to blame for the bad statistics? Not the Government. Not history. Not anyone else.

It is everyone who doesn’t show restraint, who doesn’t take their health seriously, who doesn’t do their part. Heed Elder’s words and stop blaming someone or something else for problems.

Midge Janssen, Palmerston North

NZ needs Auckland

Murray Shaw and Patrick Houlahan have written letters on how their taxes are spent.

Shaw says the rest of New Zealand’s tax supports Auckland, Houlahan says Auckland’s tax supports the rest of New Zealand.

I can’t confirm their figures but they are of little relevance in the great scheme of things.

Every country has a big city so obviously there is a societal need. Big cities can’t survive without the hinterland and the hinterland needs a big city, history tells us so. We are good for each other, as you work to improve your lot you improve society’s lot, so it is immaterial which area tax comes from, as long as it is used to solve problems nationwide.

Garth Scown, Wanganui

Pandering to Russia?

Venezuela needs to work its own destiny out as does every sovereign nation, without foreign intervention.

Contrary to a letter last week, we must be thankful for the wisdom of our government who upheld this principle. How is this pandering to Russia?

Pretender Juan Guaido has been thrust upon the political scene of Venezuela without local credibility in any form. Research reveals that before his selfproclaimed presidency he was unknown to more than 80 per cent of Venezuelans. These majorities reject any form of intervention as suggested by the US.

Popular opinion in Venezuela supports negotiations between the government and the opposition as proposed by Mexico, Uruguay, and the Vatican. No coup, no regime change, no war is their mantra. They want peace.

It is their country. Viva Venezuela!

Denise Kelsall, Auckland

Welcome, tourists

Some may love this visitor boom, some hate it. Overseas visitors bring huge financial benefits to our nation, but naturally, as with any business transaction, there are downsides too.

Excess litter, accommodation shortages, preventable road accidents, adventure mishaps and unruly behaviour are really only temporary inconveniences. It could change in a flash. A simple natural event, a scare or just a cyclical worldwide economic downturn will return our entire infrastructure (to ourselves).

So, we should milk this boom for all it’s worth, because when the day arrives, when our tourism boom vanishes, we can be pleased that we improved our infrastructure while we had the funds to do so.

Therefore we may need to be a little tolerant and forgiving, however hard it is at the time when temporary inconvenience confronts us.

Rene´ Blezer, Taupo