Guns ban a pointless exercise
When a major government policy is introduced, shouldn’t the objective be the first consideration? We are spending tens of millions on confiscation of guns, but what is the purpose?
If it is to remove the possibility of an incident like the Christchurch one occurring again, this policy will never achieve that. We will never, ever get all the guns. We will succeed in getting lawabiding people to turn in their guns, but that has nothing to do with the objective. There will always be people who hold on to their military-type guns, and one of those could be the next mass killer. It only takes one person and one gun.
We have found huge sums of money for this useless, pointless exercise. Why not instead spend it on the expensive drugs various people are crying out for? That would save more lives than trying to round up guns.
Susan Grimsdell, Auckland Central.
Dogs on beaches
Auckland Council is about to pander to the dog lobby. Why don’t they listen to the parents whose toddlers step in or dig up dog faeces on the beach? And don’t listen to the protestations of the dog owners when they claim to pick up the faeces of their dogs. A significant minority of them will be lying.
The council proposes keeping dogs off the beach between 10am and 5pm from December to February (inclusive). That’s all very well but a moment’s thought should tell them that in that period some children at the beach are in the water. In the winter all the children at the beach (and there are plenty of them, especially at holiday times) play in the sand.
If that is not enough, consider the little children who are terrorised by unsupervised dogs, thus making them permanently frightened of dogs.
Peter Newfield, Takapuna.
Silver Ferns
Cartoonist Rod Emerson aptly summed up the situation of the Silver Ferns (24/7/19). The Government has in the past thrown money at the America’s Cup team, ticker-tape parades have been provided costing large amounts, the All Blacks bask in glory and travel in style, and the cricketers were offered a parade. I am so tired of the sexist attitude that pervades NZ society; 12 players and coaches brought sporting glory and pride to us on Monday morning, yet for their dedication they receive nothing — apart from the offer of a welcome home. Jacinda and councils — put your hand in your coffers and make a payment to each of this team for their incredible effort. They gave up a year of their lives — solely for the pride of wearing the black dress and playing for our country. It is time for sportswomen to be financially recompensed.
Martha-Louise Asmus, Totaravale.
Cricket World Cup
“We were all [the five match officials] happy that the batsmen had completed the second run because the ball ricocheted off Stokes’ bat at the time of him completing the second run” said umpire Dharmasena. “So, we assumed that they had crossed each other at the time of the fielder releasing the ball.”
The officials could not have assumed that as, being familiar with cricket, they would have known that if the batsmen had crossed Stokes would have got to the crease as much as a full second ahead of a ball being thrown in from long-on.
The 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup final was a debacle due to the match officials not knowing the rules of the game; they were all suspended. The 2019 final was also a debacle, for the same reason. In 2008 the ICC changed the result of a 2006 test match from a win to England over Pakistan to a draw, and then in 2009 changed the result back again. If those in charge of the ICC wish to maintain the integrity of the game of which they are the custodians, it behoves them to step away from their roles and let a different crew have a go.
Will McKenzie, Sandringham.
‘Thriving’ economy
In response to Robert Burrows, we had many years, recently, of the economy “thriving” — the very years of growing homelessness, rising rents, overcrowded schools, hospitals in disrepair, and rising substance abuse and suicide. Economic growth, high profits and good tax revenue do not produce well-being. We actually have to pressure business to deliver better wages and working conditions, and to train and employ Kiwi workers. And we have to vote in a Government that spends its tax revenue on programmes that will maintain a safety net of financial support, comprehensive health services and social housing — not just on more infrastructure to help economic growth.
B. Darragh, Eden Crescent.
Super City criticism
I fully endorse John Roughan’s devastating critique of the so-called “Super City Council” in Monday’s Herald.
And to the the positive comments by Shane Ellison, chief executive of Auckland Transport in the same Herald, I say: Yes, Highbury (Birkenhead) looks much nicer since the changes that have been made. I invite him to come to Highbury at peak traffic times and observe the regular traffic jams of which we had few and far between before, not to speak of the removal of a significant number of carparks as a result of the work of Auckland Transport. Thanks but no thanks.
Rinny Westra, Birkenhead.
Oranga Tamariki
The bosses of Oranga Tamariki hope to have abuse on tamariki under their care reduced by this time next year!? Yeah, nah! It is totally unacceptable there be even one abuse case of any child let alone those in the care of Oranga Tamariki. They need to put their house in order urgently. If this cannot be done, then maybe it is time to change the leadership to one who understands the problems of NZ whanau.
Marie Kaire, Whanga¯ rei.
Seat belts
Wednesday’s letter advocating seatbelts by Ray Calver was spot on.
I started as an eye surgeon at Auckland Hospital just before belts became compulsory. Early one Saturday I was called to a teenage girl who had been hurled through a windscreen in a headon crash. Lifting the first eyelid showed a shattered eye.My heart pounded as I lifted the second lid; it was exactly the same. After the family had arrived, and with the kind nurse holding her hand, we told her she was permanently blind. This has to be formally announced as such patients mentally repress the situation, telling themselves a magic operation will soon occur. The patient said nothing to us, and turned away to face the wall. She said nothing to anyone for two weeks.
That is what it’s like, and if this description encourages even one person to click the belt before a crash it will have been worth publishing.
Dr Harold Coop, Remuera.
Environmental doom
Rachel Stewart’s opinion piece on Wednesday was both enlightening and frightening. She really hit home with her message of our disconnection from what is happening with our world. Our heads are down, staring into the virtual reality of our devices, whilst real planetary destruction and environmental change are inexorably continuing.
Her comment that politicians are pointless at this late juncture and that democracy is but a veneer over our environmental problems is prescient . . .
Chris Blenkinsopp, Beach Haven.
Population density
I wonder if recent correspondents comparing NZ to other countries have any idea what they are talking about? Norway has a surplus of electricity so they export it. We’ll struggle to cope with any increased demand.
When it comes to comparing our traffic with Singapore, I can only assume some do not understand what population density means. NZ (and Norway) have a population density of less than 20 people per sq km. The UK with more than 66 million people and a similar size to NZ, has a density of about 250 people per sq km. Singapore’s is a staggering 7900.
We have to rely on private transport because even with 1 million people around Auckland, it covers an area seven times the size of Singapore.
Ray Green, Birkenhead.
EV subsidies
With a subsidy to be available for an EV it will become a viable choice for my next car. But I will need three questions answered first: What is the manufacturers guarantee for the life of the battery?
What is the replacement cost of the batteries? This is very important so as to have any value as a second-hand car.
And what plans does the Government or councils have to recycle/dispose of the dead batteries? And I don’t mean the nearest landfill. Vince West, Milford.