Major mansion disappointment

I was sorry to read (Mar 2) that the public open days at McLean’s Mansion have been postponed indefinitely due to ‘‘exceptional circumstances’’. Rumour has it that this is because of an extant CERA section 45 (‘‘danger, danger’’) notice.

If so, this is another example of the stupidity that closed all our old timber-framed community halls on Banks Peninsula for years after the February 2011 earthquake – at the very time they were most needed.

When will the powers that be realise that the only danger posed by timber-framed buildings is falling chimneys.

In the Canterbury earthquakes, then in the Kaikoura earthquake, many unreinforced masonry chimneys (mostly brick held together with weak lime mortar) broke off at roof level. The ones that didn’t fall have been demolished, at least down to roof level and the buildings are now safe.

Interestingly, EQC (the taxpayers) still insure unreinforced masonry chimneys throughout the country, without a care for safety or commercial reality. David W Collins, Governors Bay

Slippery slopes

How many firearm-carrying police also carry a photo of Halatau Naitoko? That innocent courier driver who was gunned down by a police officer shooting from one vehicle going at high speed at an offender driving another car at high speed. The policeman’s actions were supported by his superiors and any prosecution was quashed.

Others have spoken of the slippery slope. That should be slippery slopes. Permanently carrying a sidearm – used more often; innocent casualties more common; and cover-ups more routine. Will police introduce stricter policies to ensure power-hungry cowboys are not recruited? And how will they do that while politicians are promising more police numbers?

How effective is a Glock pistol beyond 10 metres? Why did that officer get within 10 metres of an armed offender? I’m just hoping Superintendent Price has thought through the questions above and is truly confident he will not end up with figurative blood on his hands.

Steve Cox, St Albans

Orchestra wow

What a fantastic performance of our Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (CSO) on Saturday, to a sold-out audience in our newly refurbished Christchurch Town Hall.

Chris Cree Brown’s world premiere of the Phoenix composed for Christchurch’s recovery from our earthquakes was quite moving. Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite complimented Brown’s piece. Mozart’s two pianos concerto was performed to perfection with Michael Houston and Tony Chen Lin on the pianos. The clincher was Respighi’s Pines of Rome with the Woolston Brass playing at the end of the last movement. As Benjamin Northey, the CSO’s Chief Conductor, implied, Christchurch has triumphantly recovered from our devastating earthquakes to rise again. The talent, passion and sheer energy of the CSO complimented by Woolston Brass was so moving that the entire audience stood up to give a rousing applause with bountiful cheers to the musicians.

Larry Beck, Christchurch Central

Checks, balances

Stacey Kirk’s piece on Saturday clearly shows her opinion is likely to bounce around an echo chamber like none other. She derides the Government’s attempts to support businesses with new ideas where banks fear to tread. In the absence of huge New Zealand corporates that have significant research funds, the Government needs to step in.

Sure there will be nonstarters but the big corporations have these occurring all the time and the success rate is low, but this is the way they maximise successes.

The other part of Stacey’s piece is the discussion on wellbeing and the echo chamber cynicism needs some check and balance on it. She seems not to understand that social isolation leads to depression and that social connection (befriending others) can impact positively on health.

Given all that, Stacey calls up the success of Whanau Ora, which is good to hear.

Brian Ward, Richmond