Letters

New Brighton’s difference

Brighton once had a distinctive point of difference in that it was the only place in Christchurch for Saturday shopping and other activities.

It needs to create this ‘‘difference’’ again. It is already part-way there in-so-far the pier, library and the natural beach attract customers. Add a hot salt water pool and associated swimming complexes (imagine Hanmer Springs without the pools), plus a world-class aquarium such as Auckland’s Kelly Tarlton’s Sealife Aquarium, people including tourists would be attracted again to Brighton for something that is unique to the location.

Put a bulldozer through the mall and replace with much smaller compact boutique shops and entertainment areas and I’m sure Brighton will have plenty of potential to come alive again. Malcolm Robinson

Westmorland

No black hole

Further to Dr Greg Clydesdale’s incorrect assumptions on the decline of retailing in New Brighton (Perspective, Oct 24) the following corrections apply: The successful pier project was to replace the old pier and provide a recreation attraction for locals and the people of Christchurch supported by residents and others providing hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations. New Brighton is not in a ‘‘pitiful state’’ and has always been a viable service centre with now two banks and the necessary retailing outlets and service operations. In company with the central city, major retailing in New Brighton also relocated to the nearby shopping malls and is no more ‘‘a black hole in which millions of dollars has been thrown ‘‘ than the central city where attempts of rejuvenation have been made. New Brighton beach will continue to be a successful seaside attraction for Christchurch. Peter V Haughey South Brighton

Affordable state housing

The 1800-bed, billion-dollar prison expansion creates the equivalent of 600 three-bedroom houses at a cost of $1.67 million each. If the Government was proposing this under social housing, I bet the outcry would be deafening. Come on New Zealand, it’s time to question this government’s motives. What makes this insanity worse is the annual maintenance. What could our excellent voluntary organisations achieve with even a fraction of this obscene spend. I would rather my taxes went to improve the lot of others than worsen them – wouldn’t you? Jenette Hawes Reefton

Still much doubt

With the pending Walk for Justice from Christchurch to Picton, I think it is important to reconsider the Operation Tam Case.

The case against Scott Watson seems very weak at the least. As outlined in the documentary Doubt: The Scott Watson Case, there are a number of issues which raise the element of doubt.

In cases like this isn’t it we are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt? How then in a case like this can a conviction stick? Since Scott has been convicted the case is no doubt closed.

Therefore, if Scott is innocent, there is no investigation to find the real instigator. Whether it’s a people smuggler, killer, abducted for slave trade or whatever, we don’t know. The case deserves a fresh set of eyes for justice for all parties. Dylan Blair Hamilton

He deserves good press

Regarding ‘‘Jean Batten, the Kiwi Wonder Woman’’ (Perspective, Oct 26), Katie Pickles, claims Ian Mackersey in The Garbo of the Skies was one of the negative interpreters of Jean’s life, ‘‘assasinating her character and diminishing her achievements’’. Prof Pickles prefers Fiona Kidman’s interpretation which ‘‘rehabilitates Batten’s memory’’. Where is the evidence to lend credence to Prof Pickles’ point of view? Mackersey went to enormous lengths to gather the material on which he and his researcher-wife, Caroline, based their interpretation, including interviewing many people close to Jean. Nowhere does Mackersey downplay Jean’s bravery and remarkable achievements. Further, he lambasts New Zealand officialdom including politicians for their paltry efforts in finding and honouring Jean at the time when her continued existence could no longer be traced through normal channels. Bob Gidlow Nelson