Stop farm pollution

So eighty farmers in Canterbury continue to soak carcinogens as nitrates into the groundwater. This poison is moving slowly towards our pristine drinking water. If this continues, I believe that in the future our tap water will be undrinkable.

Any other business damaging the environment and working illegally would be stopped, fined and possibly closed down. These farmers who thumb their noses at us and common sense should be immediately taken to task, just as any other business would have, and not allowed to continue this damaging practice.

Why does ECan as (doubtful) guardians of our environment and water not just close them down? And why don’t we hear from Ngai Tahu on this serious matter? Come on, ECan, show some teeth and action to stop this. A slap on the wrist with a wet bus ticket is just not good enough here.

Alan Johnson

Papanui

Most farmers are good

So 80 Canterbury farmers are breaking environmental rules, are they? The vast majority of them own their farms because they love farming, love and care for their animals, are proud to grow good crops to feed people and animals, and work very hard for long hours to make a living.

A minority of farmers do not have pride in their farms, or care for their stock or land. Some farmers do not understand what is required to manage a farm well and struggle on doing a very poor job but do not see any easy way to get out of it.

Why is it headlines when any form of farming is not going well and implied that most farmers are bad?

How many employers are underpaying their employees or not giving them time off when they are entitled to it? How much rubbish is chucked out car windows to litter roadsides?

How many people dump all their rubbish on public land by rivers or in bush etc? How many people have animals living at their homes that they neglect and abuse and have the nerve to refer to as pets?

Please stop implying that most farmers are bad.

Marion G Gardiner Blenheim