Older workers

‘‘Out with the old and in with the new’’ was more or less the suggestion by Susan Edmunds in Over-65s ‘could quit to ease unemployment’ the old low-lying parts of the city. It is the sulphur in sulphates in the seawater, water supply and some trade wastes that are the problem. The wastewater itself, whilst having low levels of sulphur containing matter, contributes little to the corrosion problems.

These facts have been known for years but from personal experience both councillors and senior staff were never interested in addressing the problem. I produced a report in September 2008 detailing the chemistry of what was happening but it fell on deaf ears.

The council should bite the bullet now, identify where the corrosion problems are, and deal with them; action the further removal of seawater from the sewer system and make funds available for Wellington Water to action.

The use of corrosion-resistant materials is now essential and will be expensive.

Keith Davis, Elderslea

The government could have instituted lockdown in 1956, but didn’t, recognising at some level that New Zealand could not afford to try to protect the vulnerable absolutely. They were left to protect themselves, and it’s likely most did.

The difference in approach to Covid-19 compared to that for the Asian flu is best explained by stark differences in attitudes to human life and conceptions of the common good. In the 1950s, the focus was sensibly on the overall future wellbeing of the collective.

By contrast, current New Zealand society is characterised by death denialism and infantile delusions that every human life is sacred and priceless, that we all just have to be ‘‘kind’’ and that the Government can and must make us all ‘‘safe’’.

John George Ronaldson McLean, Khandallah [abridged] not the People – yachting, archery, cycling, motorcar/bike racing.

■ Alliance for Excessive Physical Contact –wresting (all sorts, GrecoRoman, arm and underwater), boxing, judo.

And so on. Unfortunately there are about 8000 sports in the world and given our love of sport there is bound to be at least one practitioner here, so all would need to be included. It would be a big job to reduce this to, say, 500 groups, but it could be a job for someone.

Norman Smith, Houghton Valley