Don’t ever re-open the pokies

Seven weeks of level 3-4 lockdown will have allowed many pokie addicts to take a serious look at the difference this has made to their finances, and learn from it.

My own feeling is that all pokies should remain closed even through level 2, and the Government should use this time to take a hard look at whether they should ever re-open.

The harm they do is palpable and the much vaunted good is largely illusory, or at best, marginal. Take the opportunity to hit this destructive anti-social activity on the head. Once and for all.

Ross Elliot, Motueka

Thanks to the Bagshaws

Sue and Phil Bagshaw’s opinion piece (May 4) on the need for more co-operation rather than competition is inspiring and cheering, in these days when there is not much good news. Their great reputation in the health ‘‘industry’’ for their work with the needy should encourage many readers to take their article seriously.

Most of the world’s major problems (inequality, poverty, destruction of the natural environment, climate change, poor health) have been caused by the growth of neo-liberalism and competition instead of the co-operation that helps societies to function healthily.

Small and local, sharing, caring, equal, self-sufficient – all were the characteristics of life in society before wealth and competition dominated. Previous major events like World War II even brought those ways back for a short time.

Now, with our lives radically changed by Covid-19, we see people again showing their caring for one another, helping and sharing where possible, restoring their gardens to health, learning to cook nourishing food, appreciating nature in their daily walks, if lucky enough to live near it.

Long may this trend continue, supported by a government struggling to balance all needs.

Juliet Adams, Lyttelton

Green new deal

I am writing to support the co-operative vision of Phil and Sue Bagshaw.

A vision based on prioritising funding of basic social needs for health, education and housing should be our goal. The value of a more centralised and well funded health system has been shown world wide by the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is time for a green new deal in New Zealand. For starters the youth hub for Christchurch needs support and a Ministry of Horticulture with interestfree loans for new ventures should be first cabs off the rank.

Don Rowlands, Riccarton

Evenhandedness

There has recently been some interesting correspondence on the political stance of The Press. While I personally favour a Left of Centre position, I can appreciate that this may not be welcomed by others. We, naturally, like to see our own views reflected in our paper.

One of the problems in New Zealand is that the press here is, essentially, regional. In the UK there is a national press and with it a choice in the politics of the paper you read. If your bent is to the Left, you read The Guardian or The Mirror. If to the Right, you have The Telegraph or The Mail.

Keeping a balance is not easy for your leader writers and I think The Press does a reasonable job of it as well as giving your readers a fair chance to express their views.

I have even seen correspondence from Trump supporters in your letters page and what could be more even handed than that?

David Mitchell, St Albans

Cheque petition

Now could be just the time to petition our prime minister to retain cheques. I wrote previously on the futility of individuals writing. A petition to our prime minister might now just do it. She has access to emergency powers and we have the national emergency.

Of course she is very busy right now, but has been shown to have empathy. She has the ability to put a petition in the right place for her advisers to act, perhaps an executive order declaring cheques must be legal tender.

That would demonstrate the power of the media, the vox pop and the constitution working in unison, as intended. It would also be good to see these arrogant departmental heads and chief executives taken down a peg or two.

So, why don’t I organise it? Because I am as incompetent at online petitions as I am with online banking.

If someone could assist and organise I would gladly make a donation.

Wayne Wilson, Christchurch central

NZ sold up the creek

Ikea is about to establish in NZ and I couldn’t help reflect on what NZ has lost since the demise of the NZ Forest Service four decades ago and the skilled labour and trades that vanished with it, also the profits denied to the taxpayer account.

Post-war, Scandinavian countries were almost Third World and New Zealand was near the top of the OECD ratings. Now it’s vice-versa.

Having seen the enormous Ikea factory in Sweden and studied the regenerative forestry model of Finland and Sweden, where virtually nothing of a harvested tree goes to waste, the sight of our clear-felled woods fills me with disgust.

Not forgetting that our recent system of governance has ‘‘sold NZ up the creek’’, which, by the way, is now choked with willows set to capture the forest slash waiting to be swept off the slopes and wreak mayhem downstream.

While I agree that ‘‘exporting sawlogs is unacceptable’’ Martin van Beynen has got it —‘‘In past times our country got it right’’. Kindergarten politicians, please note.

John McCaskey, Waipara

Out of bed this morning

Andy Cunninghym says most job losses are due to the Government’s response to the virus, not an inevitable consequence of the virus itself. You can’t argue with that. It is also true the sun comes up in the morning not because the planet is both orbiting the sun and rotating on its axis, but because I have woken up to see it.

Phil Butler, New Brighton

Road test for cannabis

Until our traffic police have a quick reliable side-of-the-road cannabis intoxication test kit, I shall be voting against legalisation for recreational use. One lot of drunken fools on the road is enough.

Phillip Rex Robinson, Waltham

Time for some reward

When is the megalomaniac going to cut us some slack? The vast majority have been playing by her rules. Now is the time for some reward.

Jim Trathen, Pegasus

Missed opportunity

Surely the headline on Monday’s Press should have been "Sumner breach"?

Max Lucas, Christchurch central

Don’t stuff it up

I find it totally stupid and irresponsible that people in Canterbury and New Zealand can go against the advice given to us by the Government in venturing out of their respective bubbles over last weekend at the beach. Unbelievable.

If the Government gave police the power to instantly fine people ($200 would do it), I’m sure they would change their minds pretty quickly in doing such a silly thing again.

We are in level 3 at present, soon to drop to level 2, we are almost there. So don’t stuff it up for everyone else, and then hopefully we can get back to a better style of life. Only we can do it, but let’s do it together.

Graham Trotter, Burwood