Keeping tight rein on free-range
Regarding Cracks in confidence (Sept 13), the Egg Producers Federation of New Zealand (EPF) wholeheartedly agrees with the sentiments expressed by your correspondents, Samuel Becher and Hongzhi Gao, about the importance of trust in the functioning of markets, and in society as a whole.
The EPF has zero tolerance for fraudulent activity and in the past year has taken multiple steps to make sure fraudulent activity does not occur. It has been working closely with MPI to strengthen the reporting process egg producers are required to follow and the result is a comprehensive auditing system called Mass Balance Audits, which was introduced in November 2017.
Mass Balance Audits require significantly more detailed reporting from each egg producer, and are independently audited by MPI. It is important to note that the Commerce Commission’s allegations against an egg producer precede the introduction of this auditing system and there have been no allegations of fraudulent activity since it was introduced.
Additionally, an extensive egg traceability programme is under way with egg stamping being progressively introduced throughout the industry over the next few months. Egg stamping will give each egg a unique code verifying the region, the farm, and the production system the egg comes from and will be aligned with a traceability website that authenticates the code on the egg.
Michael Brooks, Egg Producers Federation of New Zealand executive director
Carrot, not stick
Sounds like today’s schoolrooms are a bit like loose nuts and bolts rattling around in a tin can. I am sure this is not always the case.
Control of kids in class has been a problem since time immemorial and shades of movies like Blackboard Jungle and To Sir With Love still scrape the blackboard to some.
It seems to me a little bit more psychology is needed and all kids will respond to peer pressure. Maybe it requires a bit of nous by teachers to generate the class ‘‘monitor’’ system from kids who are intelligent, can rough and tumble with the best and have some leadership qualities.
Teachers should offer rewards of extra tuition, off field training in sports activities, but the key is generating discipline from ‘‘within’’. It worked well when I was a kid.
Isolating and physically punishing kids has never worked, they probably get enough of that at home.
Steve Anderton, Paraparaumu
Bus clarification
In response to Robert Murray’s letter (Sept 18), it was not my intention to attack you personally. What I and many other drivers dislike is the undermining of our union by yourself and your employer. Yes Robert, it is a concern of the union and drivers to keep good working conditions. Giving away conditions just so you have a higher hourly rate is the folly of fools. Having higher rates of pay after eight hours of work (our conditions) gives the company an incentive not to overwork its employees. Having higher rates of pay on Saturday and Sunday (our conditions) is a compensation for time away from family and boosts net pay.
Conditions of employment are very important, as is the hourly rate. Yes, we drivers should be on a higher rate of pay, but given the new contracting system being used by the GWRC, it is an uphill battle.
Your employer (Tranzit) needs to work alongside its drivers and their union, for the betterment of all and stop being so anti-union. As for me holding the union to account, that is the job of us all and if you knew me at all you would know that I have been very outspoken over many years.
We all want a better public transport system, but drivers should be able to keep good conditions and have a fair hourly rate; it is not one or the other. To really have happy drivers, they need to be valued. Finally I have never been reprimanded by my employer (NZBus) for letters to the editor that I have written. They know better than to do that.
Brent Pierson, Kingston