Meeting info hard to come by
It might almost seem Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) is trying to camouflage the community meetings about the bus fiasco.
This week I called Metlink and was told the Karori meeting would be on August 30 at Karori Community Centre. Calling up the centre to confirm this, I was told the venue had been moved to Karori West School because the centre might not be large enough to accommodate the numbers expected to attend.
Why does someone wanting to attend one of these meetings have to call GWRC to find out when and where it is? Why is this information not posted prominently on the GWRC website? And in newspapers?
Is GWRC hoping to have as few members of the public show up at these meetings as possible?
And are these meetings just an opportunity for a suffering public to let off steam – or will GWRC actually fix the problems faced by commuters?
Here’s hoping the regional council becomes more transparent – and effective. Anand Kochunny, Karori [abridged]
Hospital respite
Re Susan Lugton’s pain at going to her friend’s suicide funeral (Letters, August 28), we have all been there. But I observe that stigma against depression has increased markedly over this last generation.
Only 25 years ago people with depression routinely admitted themselves to acute units of mental hospitals for a few days’ respite, soul-searching and medical treatment. Noone thought disparagingly about them for that. Why is that?
One change since then is that we no longer openly and honestly diagnose our many mental afflictions. It is one hotchpotch of ‘‘mental illness’’. Take your pick: reactive depression, anxiety, mania, endogenous depression, schizophrenia, bulimia, etc.
On the same page as Susan Lugton’s letter was one from a Ray Wood about MPs with ‘‘mental health problems’’. Here we see the brazen (quite illogical) connection: mental health problems – can they do their job? – Stressful job – craziness.
Another change is that we no longer have designated psychiatric hospitals. Anybody who came for help here, day or night, would be admitted (I know, being relieving night charge at Nga¯ whatu for years). It just may be that Lugton’s friend might still be alive if he could have chosen a quiet week’s stay in a mental hospital.
Andy Espersen, Nelson
Welfare issues
Dairy industry spokeswoman Janet Schultz from Federated Farmers recently claimed that ‘‘although taking calves from their mothers might appear cruel, it is necessary for the health of the animals and the industry’’ (Aug 24).
Schultz highlights the issues with mastitis (a painful udder infection) that dairy cows may suffer if they are not milked by machine.
Yet, the dairy industry has created the very welfare issues it bemoans. Through breeding cows who produce high volumes of milk, the industry makes them susceptible to mastitis. It’s all about herd ‘‘improvement’’ through genetic selection with the aid of artificial insemination.
This is where cruelty comes in. Once the calf is born most cows will bond due to hormonal changes. However, within 24 hours the calf will usually be removed causing the cow to grieve.
In addition, 1.77 million calves were sent to the slaughterhouse at a mere 4-10 days of age in the 2016-17 calving season.
To be fair, the industry simply cannot keep calf and cow together if animals are to be healthy and the industry to flourish. It’s a problem endemic to the industry. But that does not mean it is not cruel.
Lynley Tulloch, Auckland
Outrageous attitude
Really, Kirsty Bassett-Burr (Mindset makes bonding hard, Aug 29). I am almost too shocked by your letter to respond, but I am compelled to do so. I imagine that any mother who has desired to breastfeed her new baby, yet struggled, would feel unfairly criticised by your attitude.
But what riles me most is the implication that Jacinda Ardern’s desire to work and be successful means she will not bond or care for her daughter. This, in my opinion, is unfair, unkind and totally outrageous. I would not question for one moment the love and support Neve is receiving from both her parents and extended family. Heather Ellen, Waikanae Beach