Shame on NZ cricket for ‘Bodyline’ bowling tactics
Mark Reason’s piece on Bodyline bowling (‘‘Shameful hypocrisy of Bodyline’’, December 22) is probably the best piece of sports writing I have read this year. ‘‘Bodyline is a disgusting tactic’’ indeed. It is shocking, shameful and an utter disgrace. To those in New Zealand Cricket responsible for allowing it I give you the Earl of Kent in King Lear:
‘‘Whilst I can vent clamour from my throat,
I’ll tell thee thou dost evil.’’
John L R Allum, Thames
Drugs ‘folly’
Recently, harness racing driver Matthew Anderson pleaded guilty to using and supplying class B drugs. Yet he was discharged without conviction. His defence lawyer said this 27-year-old was ‘‘a naive young man’’ driven to drugs so he could continue to drive when tired. If he needs drugs to do his job, maybe it’s time he had a rethink of his choice of occupation.
Judge Neave said he was merely engaging in ‘‘acts of relatively youthful folly’’ and was ‘‘sympathetic’’ to Anderson’s plight.
Is Judge Neave sending a message that drugs are OK if you find yourself in a plight? Or is the law different for harness racing drivers and whoever was supplying Anderson?
Vernon Pribble, Auckland
PM’s critics
Jo Cribb’s analysis of the #ParttimePM (‘‘We need to value part-timers’’, December 22) cogently defended parents who seek to balance work and parental responsibilities. Rather than just defend part-time workers, however, Cribb could also have discussed why Simon
Bridges and his sympathisers choose to attack Jacinda Ardern and her partner for taking care of their daughter while also enabling her to carry on her responsibilities as prime minister.
More than just a beat-up about a trip to Tokelau, the Twitter discussion underlines the double bind for women in power. As I discovered in 2008, there were 90,000 links on Google for Helen Clark and a word that begins with a ‘B’ and rhymes with ‘witch’ and 1,500,000 for Hillary Clinton. Both got accused of lesbianism and Clark’s childlessness was one of the criticisms used against her along with claims about her dictatorial ambitions.
Critics find it more difficult to fit Ardern into the mannish stereotype of the bossy powermad virago. Instead, they try to portray her as a weak, flighty, Jacindarella who can’t give her full attention to her job because she has a child.
Fortunately, except perhaps for Mike Hosking, New Zealanders seem able to believe that a prime minister can be a mother.
Dolores Janiewski, Wellington
Price of alcohol
It’s pleasing to read that many young people are currently opting to drink less alcohol. Advertising and promotion ensures it is in front of each of us every day. We know more booze is being produced, so we ask who is consuming it and how. We talk about the incredible years of brain development; we worry about increasing cancer and other disease rates; we read about road deaths and injuries, and shocking rates of interpersonal violence – all of which are affected by alcohol.
Now we are told we need more research before we take action to better regulate alcohol.
So while we prevaricate through our seasonal cheer season and beyond, look out for your mates, and spare a thought for the medical staff and other social service providers who relentlessly deal with the ups and downs of binge-drinking others.
Barbara Holland, Greymouth
‘Re-turn Ardern’
Andrea Vance (Focus, December 22) is correct to say that no-one came out of the Labour Party camp scandal looking good, least of all Paula Bennett who climbed into the story for her own political advantage.
Now that questions about the veracity of the complainant now arise one can see the pawn she became in Bennett’s games.
And to the ‘‘turn Ardern’’ campaigners, I’m starting a ‘‘re– turn Ardern’’ group.
Given that it’s election year next year, you’ve got to admit that has a nice ring to it, eh? John Capener, Kawerau
Pension deductions
Comments by Kay Read from the Ministry of Social Development in the article ‘‘Pension deductions frustration’’ (Business, December 22) are a failed spin-doctoring attempt to justify the unjustifiable dollarfor-dollar deduction of overseas pensions from New Zealand Superannuation.
Just for clarification: most overseas pensions are workrelated and employer/employeefunded, similar to KiwiSaver, and therefore only people who have actually worked and made contributions to the respective nations’ retirement schemes