TO THE POINT

Few people whistle nowadays. Is the dearth of this tranquillising sound the result of zippy, zappy lifestyle, full of digital or awful sounds everpresent like doors slamming, heavymetal blaring, brakes screeching, or hearing Trump fuming or bleeting? For us whistlers of yesteryear it can be a comforter in sombre times, yet also can herald love-found exuberance. Maybe we can revive this ancient past-time, when carefree whistling dissolved worry. It may just be an antidote to the spiralling suicide rate? Birds have known this for millenniums.

ROB BUCHANAN, Kerikeri

Like many Wellingtonians, I deplore the removal of the iconic trolley buses from our streets, to be replaced by diesel vehicles. In most large cities, authorities are doing their best to limit the amount of diesel fumes, now recognised as being detrimental to health. However, what further frustrates me is the lack of a suitable ceremony to bid them farewell. A flotilla of vehicles might have made a celebratory final journey along routes 1-4 on the Sunday following their alleged redundancy. Perhaps this might be remedied when we welcome them back with their unproven hybrid motors.

DAVID TINSLEY, Wellington

Surely the corollary of landlords being forced to sell substandard rentals because they have profited on being substandard owners is that the estimated 5200 flooding of the market will mean cheaper houses for new owners who will more than likely want to live in a healthy, warm home.

BARRY THOMAS, Island Bay

It has often been said that a picture paints a thousand words. That was clearly illustrated in the photo of the National Party’s members in Parliament this week, with their two MPs appearing particularly aggressive in their confrontation with Chris Hipkins. They portrayed to me that I would not like to meet them on a dark night.

HENRY SMITH, Maungaraki Now that Trevor Mallard has been appointed Speaker despite the antics of the big kids on the Opposition benches, perhaps he can follow through on his pledge to make Parliament a more child friendly environment. As well as providing facilities for breastfeeding MPs, perhaps he could dedicate a ‘‘naughty corner’’ area for the likes of Simon Bridges and Bill English to go play in when they misbehave.

MIKE JARVIS, Paraparaumu Beach

Win the election with our two other coalition parties. Then watch the exchange rate drop. Then watch the price of petrol increase. Then watch the price rises for goods and services. Then watch interest rates climb. Then watch house prices drop, thus eating up the small equity of the first-home buyers. Let’s do this and make our voters suffer.

JOSEPH KENNEALLY, Ka¯piti

Mayor Justin Lester is stepping in to save Newtown’s Workingmen’s Bowling Club. Really? Yet he didn’t lift one finger to save the trolley buses, which added character and charm to the city, much like London’s red double-decker buses do for that city. It amazes me that most of the people on the regional and city councils seem to have very little feeling of our city’s heritage and uniqueness. JOSIE BULLOCK, Newtown