EVERYONE ENTITLED

Regarding the NZ Seniors Party letter Forgotten Generation:

I am an ex-pat from South Africa, where I taught English for 40 years.

The last 10 years were spent at a polytech, in the faculties of the Correctional Services and Police Diplomas. I learned a great deal about criminal law and life in prisons. The punishment of incarceration is sufficient in itself.

He is exposed to people with bent views on honesty, and is in close confinement with offenders of various crimes. The atmosphere is certainly not conducive to becoming a lawabiding citizen.

It’s in the public interest to equip the prisoner with a decent standard of accommodation, food and access to education.

Everyone is entitled to a roof over their head, food, clothing and education. We are talking about basics here, not luxuries.

To convert a criminal into a responsible member of society is a very worthy ambition. I say good luck to the prison officials, social workers and the government for their efforts in rehabilitation. The Warehouse has seen it fit to set up a pop up shop in Kawakawa’s main street from December to February.

This is at the detriment to all the other retailers trying to seek out a living and paying for occupancy year round.

Haven’t they got enough exposure to the community with Whangarei, Kaikohe and Waipapa stores?

When they move out at the end of February what would they have achieved - to make vulnerable businesses even more unprofitable and milk the community of every last drop of its soul at the expense of having some businesses fall over?

I hope the residents of Kawakawa realise if they don’t support the businesses that stay all year they can expect to be driving a lot further in the future to make a purchase.

Vote with your feet.