Ardern can get away with a CGT Pay decently

The hot potato of house prices is being chucked between the Government and the Reserve Bank. Grant Robertson, following his prime minister’s directive, doesn’t want to bite the bullet of having a capital gains tax, and Adrian Orr has said quite firmly that the matter doesn’t liewithin his bank’s terms of reference.

If Imay make a prediction, Jacinda Ardern, whom I admire very much, will give way on this point andwewill have a CGT or wealth tax or redefine the bright line tax, or call it something quite different. New Zealand is ready for it. A home to own and live in is now out of reach of ordinary families. Even Judith Collins sees it.

It is more possible for Ardern to make the change necessary than it has ever been. The face of politics has become more good-humoured, even gracious, under her leadership, and it is not a disgrace to admit to having to change her mind.

Selwyn Boorman, Waikanae

NZ Initiative economist Eric Crampton stretches an analogy by likening minimum wage rises to road conditions ( Drive – and pay – to the conditions, Nov 30). ‘‘Reduce your speed,’’ he warns.

The problem is Crampton has forgotten that the road code also talks about sharing the road, driving on the left, having a licence and wearing your seatbelt. Minimum wage laws are the bottom line of what should be ‘‘safe’’ in the workplace and the lower they are the worse the roads.

Come on, Eric, driving with handbrake on just doesn’t work. Let’s drive safely and pay decently.

Alastair Duncan, Brooklyn

Where’s the logic?

I flew on four different flightswith Air NZ this pastweek. On all fourwewere politely reminded that we had to wear masks. They had masks available for passengerswho didn’t have them, and they told those passengers who needed to be told how to wear them correctly.

Then they came around offering drinks and snacks, meaning everyone O¯ removed their masks at the same time. The logic escapes me.

Alan Peck, Lower Hutt