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Reflection

Now that the dust has settled from the local body elections and I have had time to reflect I would like, through your paper, to express my sincere gratitude to my supporters.

Over 2000 people clearly recognised a need for a change of leadership of the Gore District Council. Like me, they acquainted themselves with the details of the LTP and shared my concern of excessive increases of rates and a proposed doubling of debt in the next 5 years.

In particular my strategy team were thorough with their diligence and most helpful in supporting my bid for Mayoralty.

Many thanks to all who wanted progress for our community! I have come to the possible conclusion that those who voted for the status quo were possibly not so much voting for continuance of the LTP but were simply preferring peace.

Comfortable shoes may not be suitable for the rocky road ahead! Bevin Watt Gore

Who to believe

Shortly after the big Christchurch shake the Dean/Bishop? of the badly damaged cathedral was asked during a television interview why God would do this.

I seem to remember he replied it wasn’t God who did the damage, it was the planet.

In your scripture (18 October), we were informed what the Lord Almighty said. ‘‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.’’ Haggai 2-6.

I’m confused. Who do we believe? Ray Willett Te Anau

Watching closely

North Korea’s ‘‘Dear leader’’ was wise enough to follow his grandfather and father’s advice to build a strong deterrent against the great Satan.

The term is apt as America over the past 60 years of being the selfimposed ‘‘policeman of the world’’ is responsible for millions of deaths, torture, mass bombings of civilians with napalm etc and also responsible directly with the present situation in Syria.

For those that don’t know, America was always determined to rid the country of Assad a staunch supporter of Russia and encouraged the Rebels to overthrow the regime with their backing including arms.

In the meantime, Kim will be watching crooked Hilary and demented Donald fight it out knowing he has made his country secure from invasion from the madmen of US Foreign policy. K Sutherland Queenstown

Prisoner concern

I was concerned that letters published in this paper (October 21) supported harsher treatment of prisoners and referred to them as ‘‘the dregs of New Zealand society’’.

Our country has the seventh highest rate of incarceration in the OECD, not because we have more criminals than most countries in the world, but because we fail those who struggle to live in our society.

Research from the National Health Commission has revealed that prisoners are three times more likely to require mental health support than the general population, 60 per cent of prisoners suffer from personality disorders, 89 per cent have suffered from substance abuse, 54 per cent of women prisoners have suffered a severe head injury and 67 per cent of men, 52 per cent suffer from anxiety and psychotic mood disorders and 20 per cent are suicidal. A high percentage of prisoners have limited literacy and lack the skills to obtain a job.

Rather than spending $1 billion on more prison beds surely we just need to spend the same money on mental heath services and educational support. Countries like the Netherlands are closing prisons because of their more enlightened approach to dealing with the causes of criminal behaviour rather than increasing punishments. The budget surplus has only been possible because of limiting spending in health and education and the need for more prison beds is one of the costs. Dave Kennedy Invercargill