Astounded by Emergency Services Rate cut

As reported in a local newspaper, I am astounded that the Northland Regional Council is planning to cut funding to mid-week surf life guards and the Northland Rescue Helicopter. The Northland Rescue Helicopter service as reported stands to lose $553k which it needs to top up Government funding. What on earth are these councillors thinking? Especially when one of the councillors is in an area where three surf beaches are in question.

I don’t read of any councillors taking a pay cut.

The chair as reported receives $126,500p/a. The deputy chair gets $79,191, and councillors with additional responsibilities receive $71,681; and four of them that lost their portfolios receive $53,710.

I think that the NRC is overloaded with sponging bureaucrats.

What would a drowning or a badly injured person requiring a helicopter rescue, mid-week, think if these services were cut?

The NRC long term plan proposed would also do away with funding for sporting facilities. For example, the Okara Park Stadium, the Pohe Island bike park, the Mangawhai activity zone, and sports hubs in Kaitāia, Kaikohe and Dargaville.

The proposed rate rise will drag in millions. The rate rise of 11.05 per

cent equates to an average $58 per property for the coming year and these bureaucrats plan to cut funding to two main essential services. I don’t think so.

R.J Foster Whangārei

Editor’s note: The NRC proposed to cut the Emergency Services Rate, which Surf Life Saving Northern Region said at worst may lead to reducing its paid guard service in Northland to one week.

Phenomenal

Recently, I took some friends to the Packard Car Museum in Maungatapere, where the old Dairy Factory used to be. I have visited it several times and always find something new to wonder at. It is not only full of American cars, but also English ones, as well as motor bikes, fire trucks, old buses, carriages, army vehicles, farm tractors, etc. This massive collection of Graham Craw’s is quite phenomenal.

Extra interest is added with models dressed in clothing of a past era, and the display includes two large horses also.

In addition, it contains many household goods like cameras and old telephones, plus a whole telephone exchange from Kaeo. The latest racing car addition is a long modern type of dragster but it doesn’t look like a car. It is extremely long, narrow and pointy. The late owner’s many trophies will be added later. While it is still school holidays, take the children along. If you still have time, there are two wonderful antique shops /second-hand shops there as well.

Theodora Nicholas

Whangārei

Options please

Travel writer Lawrence Schaffler writes (Tuesday, April 23) disparagingly about the senseless waste of life in WWI, but provides no alternative about what to do if your country or your neighbour’s country is invaded.

Was the Allied effort to rescue France from the invading German army really so pointless? Did Schaffler bother to ask the French if defeating their oppressors and restoring their freedom was not worth the effort?

Schaffler raises questions about his German relative’s name on a memorial plaque, but seems not to wonder what the hell his relatives were doing invading France and Belgium? Morgan Allan Hikurangi