Tiwai’s troubles

Thomas Coughlan is to be commended for his thorough and thoughtful analysis of the issues relating to the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter (Tiwai feels the heat as closure consensus grows, Oct 30). It should be required reading for all those who think there is a simple solution to the problems or that they have the answer to them.

There was one comment, however, which I feel deserves further evaluation. Almost in passing, Coughlan says ‘‘investors in the power companies partially privatised by the previous government would be burnt if Tiwai Point was closed’’.

Would this have been an issue at all if Max Bradford had not sold off the state-owned Electricity Department? Meridian was one of the companies that arose from this action.

If any decision on Tiwai Point might be influenced by its impact on investors in Meridian, then Bradford‘s action has added an unnecessary and unwanted complication.

It would certainly not be an issue if we still had the NZED. Paul Canham, Napier

Thomas Coughlan’s column on the possible closure of Tiwai Point makes a number of valid points. He shows a somewhat cavalier concern, however, for the potential loss of jobs across Southland.

Every consideration should be given to using as much as possible of the power generated at Manapouri close to its source in ways that minimise the damage to Southland’s economy while also reducing our production of greenhouse gases. If this can be achieved the transmission energy losses will be minimal compared to transmitting the power to the North Island.

Some of the power could easily be used to eliminate the substantial coal use in Fonterra plants. Pricing policies could be implemented to encourage energy-intensive industries to relocate to Southland.

This would also enable us to improve the efficiency of our transport system by reducing the imbalance in north-south freight movements.

New industries such as hydrogen production should be evaluated. Few other countries are able to produce hydrogen without using fossil fuels.

Hydrogen has a strong potential future as a fuel particularly for heavy motor vehicles and is also being investigated in trains and ships. It is also being investigated for use as a partial replacement for natural gas (as a 5 per cent additive).

It is essential that our Government has options prepared which enable it to rebuff the predictable attempt by NZ

Language is a wonderful asset to humanity. All great writers for thousands of years have used it with eloquence and simplicity. Unfortunately there seems to be a crop of ‘‘fill-in’’ words which add nothing to the meaning of any sentence. For example the well known statement ‘‘The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog’’ may sound like the following on any media. ‘‘The erm quick brown fox kinda like jumps you know over the lazy dog’’! Were the extra words useful?

David Capper, Carterton

A spokesperson from Fonterra states the company intends to ‘‘. . . upstream their supply chains’’. I think this means they are ‘‘. . . going to talk to their farmers’’. Shirley and Ken Wilson, Wellington

Luke Malpass trots out the old myth that the Government will be held to account for the All Blacks’ loss at the World Cup (Oct 29). The Government is being criticised by the Opposition for all the social,

Aluminium Smelters Ltd for further concessions.

Dr Stuart Dickson, Lower Hutt environment , financial and structural problems caused by government underfunding over the past 20 years, so why not? I think the prime minister should also be held to account for the poor performance of the leader of the Opposition.

Harvey Daniel, Island Bay

Never mind the binoculars, Bill Aitchison (Letters, Oct 30), I think the issue might more be myopia? We do, indeed, need to consider and use GE/GM – naturally with appropriate controls and protections, otherwise it’s very much akin to a stone-age fear of medicines and vaccination. Alas, it appears, a concept that is all too prevalent.

Richard Arlidge, Lower Hutt

I am 83 and I don’t think I have dementia or Alzheimer’s yet but if I did and was told not to forget my aducanumab – a real tongue twister for the clear minded but a badly chosen name for a person with dementia – I am sure I’d ask ‘‘What did you say?’’ at least three times before the drug’s name was absorbed by my ageing brain. Drug companies have the ability to make the chemical names simpler and easier to remember, rather than complex. Maybe I do have dementia . . . Stan Chun, Newlands

I find amusing Sarah Free’s comment (Oct 30), ‘‘but I support any mayor to choose their own deputy’’ given about a week ago Andy Foster was given an ultimatum on who should be his deputy.

Don Eddie, Karori

A Government-appointed misinformation unit is to be established, perhaps among other things to acquaint us with the unbiased negative consequences of dope usage and addiction. Pigs might fly. Or in this instance does misinformation simply mean disinformation and the elimination of any truth that opposes the Government’s views?

Jim Young, Belmont