LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Lessons for Nats

Interesting to note that the National Party has appointed yet another socially conservative Roman Catholic with strong links to the farming lobby to the leadership.

That mixture didn’t seem to work too well last time. I wonder if that’s because someone like that is not remotely reflective of New Zealand society in 2020.

Michael Williams, Lyttelton

Labour lacks talent

The difference between the two main parties is shown by the emergence of a credible candidate like the widely unknown Todd Muller from a big field of wellknown and capable MPs.

This contrasts with the Government which, aside from such capable MPs as Grant Robertson and Andrew Little, will lose all its ablest ministers if NZ First and the Greens fail to get returned.

How on earth can Labour form a new government on its own when it has so little talent that it can’t even replace a health minister who needs replacing?

Michael Gibson, Karori

Our Grand Poohbah

I read that the prime minister advises that she ‘‘envisages that we will stay in level 2 until the director-general has confidence that we can de-escalate’’ ( ‘No time frame’ for move to level 1, May 21).

Dr Bloomfield presents as the quintessential public servant, more Sir Humphrey than the Fat Controller. However, he is an unelected official but appears to be being granted the mantle of Lord High Everything Else.

After the initial worst case scenarios of death numbers, New Zealanders have been scared into line like the sheep to which we are often compared.

Sure, we have a very low loss of life for which the Covid-19 virus may be considered at least partially responsible. But the longer-term tragedies may make these victories seem minor, as sad as that is to contemplate.

In time, we may ponder, to paraphrase Winston (the real one): ‘‘Rarely in the field of human endeavour was so much sacrificed by so many for so few’’.

Philip Lynch, Upper Hutt

Ferry fare prices

It would really help get local tourism moving and spending if the price of fares on the ferry to the South Island could be lowered.

We used to live in Brighton and out of the main summer season, we’d regularly take the kids over to France on a day trip or for a weekend. The ferry companies were desperate to get you on the boats. Mad deals like take your car and up to five people for £1, or collect newspaper coupons for a week for the same.

The port of Dieppe assisted in this, as people always bought lots of beer, wine and cheese, ate in the restaurants and generally spent in the town and you’d always buy food and drink on the boats.

We’d do the same in Picton,

Marlborough, Nelson on a regular basis if it was more affordable. Perhaps the Provincial Growth Fund could help. As in the UK, summer season would be at full rates. I’m sure the freight provides the bulk of the revenue anyway.

With limits on air travel, cheaper ferries would really help. Mike Dickens, Tawa

Superannuation gaffe

So Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters is appealing the court decision on the matter of his superannuation gaffe. In doing so, he further demonstrates a regrettable difference between his behaviour and that of our prime minister.

Ms Ardern has stated that she does not seek to blame in the matter of the origin of the coronavirus; she seeks to know the truth simply in order to learn from it. Mr Peters, on the other hand, despite his protestations, persists in a possibly fruitless search in order to lay blame and exact vengeance.

Epictetus, Roman philosopher, states: ‘‘One of the signs of the dawning of moral progress is the gradual extinguishing of blame.’’ I suggest Mr Peters has a way to go.

Unless of course he considers the matter of who leaked his superannuation overpayment as important as identifying the source of a killer virus.

Margaret Austin, Mt Victoria

Business response

Our businesses are incredibly important contributors to our lives. During the Covid-19 disruption, there has been an understandable focus on the plight of businesses and the Government’s response.

This focus has come from the Government, the Opposition, the media, and, of course, from the business sector itself.

I have been pleasantly surprised by the even-handed comments of some business leaders, including Kirk Hope, the chief executive of BusinessNZ.

There have, however, been other business people who have been unrelentingly negative and selfinterested. The Auckland mall owner, for example, who complained that her mall should be able to open because the Covid-19 outbreak had been ‘‘dramatised out of all proportion’’. In doing so she disregarded the advice that the Government had accepted from health experts, without, on her part, having to bear the responsibility of the possible consequences of getting her wishes.

The business community has a powerful voice, especially when their suggestions, criticisms or praise of Government are not analysed and challenged by the media. On an emotional level, the mall owner’s comments were understandable, but in a crisis like this media scrutiny should look beyond the emotions.

Let’s scrutinise our Government, but not only them. Geoffrey Booth, Pukerua Bay

Transmission Gully

It comes as no surprise that the Government is looking around for more sources of revenue to complete the Transmission Gully project. Throughout construction it has been stop/go – at each stop the construction companies wringing more money out of the Government. The Aussies know we are a soft touch, have very few protections in our systems and are wide open to large retail markups. Why do you think there is a Bunnings and a Countdown in every town?

The residents of Mana Esplanade, which will be bypassed, are still waiting for Transmission Gully to start functioning to get rid of the high number of large vehicles travelling along it and to get rid of the ridiculous lanes system that drives everyone crazy. I think anyone who drives along it wishes the same.

Carole Naylor, Papakowhai

Printing money

All this talk about printing money and with a revived Social Credit movement running full page ads about the virtues of using Reserve Bank credit calls to mind a comment from former prime minister Robert Muldoon. He said: ‘‘If Social Credit works, nothing else will.’’

On that at least, he was right. Printing money is a foolish policy that devalues savings, rewards those careless with money, and funds profligate spending on projects of dubious merit.

It is tempting because it is always easy to demonstrate benefits for some group. It is dangerous because, like massive borrowing, it rewards those living in the present at the expense of those who will repay the debt in the future. It fosters the illusion among the gullible that they can have something now without having to make any sacrifices to get it.

Politically attractive for a government desperate for reelection, but economically very damaging to all taxpayers.

John Bishop, Karori

Essential workers

During this Covid-19 pandemic, the frontline health workers and essential workers have put their lives at risk for the good of the community, and yet I still see them getting nothing more than a few rounds of applause.

I am 12 years old, but even I can see that the minimum wage is not enough for people who put their lives at risk every day. Another problem essential workers have is that they don’t have very many resources in their jobs. Some nurses and doctors have spent over 24 hours wearing the same facemask. That’s a long time.

With so little resources and pay, it almost feels like essential workers are being exploited. Baxter Langford, Wellington

Affirmative action

I have seen affirmative action both here in New Zealand and before that in India. Everywhere it becomes a political football and does not serve well the target segment or population at large. So, when I read the debate waged in Medical school: Who gets in and why (May 16), I shake my head.

Affirmative action is required to ensure that students who have traditionally suffered because of race, religion or political history get an opportunity to succeed.

Smart students regardless of cultural, social, or racial background should get the opportunity to shine and rise. If financial/nonfinancial difficulties stop them from rising, we should provide that support. If bias against their background is the reason, we should address that. But should we be diluting skills and qualifications required? I don’t believe so.

Let us build support for bright students right from start. It is an inter-generational effort. We need leaders who will take politics out. Pradip Manchanda, Churton Park [abridged]

Helicopter money

There has been some discussion of a cash grant to each individual as a way of stimulating the economy. ‘‘Helicopter money’’, it is called. Not a bad idea as businesses already benefit from wage subsidies and cheap loans. Any grant to individuals needs to go to those who will spend it and not simply use it to pay off a mortgage or add to savings. The cash should go to those who need the money most.

Why not a $500 voucher that people can use in certain facilities outside their home regions? After weeks of lockdown people would love a holiday away from home. The vouchers could be coded so they can’t be spent in your own region and valid only for six months. By then we should be in a bubble with Australia.

I’m sure readers can come up with some good ideas on how the Government can spread dollars around to stimulate the economy. John Whitty, Aro Valley

Teachers’ fee increase

I didn’t know whether to be more amused or angry by Lesley Hoskin’s letter (May 21) about the increase in fees paid by teachers. I think you know you have a losing argument when you have to break the amount being charged down into meaningless weekly amounts.

Teachers fully support the need for a system that ensures the safety of children and quality of teaching. Most of the work to ensure students were safe with me, and that I was doing a good job was done by me, the students, my colleagues and the senior management.

The Teaching Council was never my voice on any issue, or if they were, they never asked me. My voice was the PPTA and I was happy to ‘‘buy’’ itsservices, because it listened and represented my views.

This isn’t a case of teachers moaning when so many others are experiencing much more pain than they are. If I was being cynical I might think this is why the Teaching Council of Aotearoa has released the information now. David Wilson, recently retired maths teacher, Wellington