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It’s that easy

The Southland Stags and Counties Manukau Steelers have exposed a chink in the armour of the mighty, all conquering Canterbury rugby team.

The red and blacks hit the wall when they reach 78 points!

All any Ranfurly Shield challenger, or any side wanting to beat the Cantabs this season, has to do is to score at a rate of a point a minute. Roger Macpherson Invercargill

Welfare

When reading Mr Cave’s quotation (September 13) from Thomas Sowell, I caught a whiff of Friedman in the air.

Sure enough, it transpires that he is a disciple of his.

Unfortunately for Friedman and Sowell, the history of Homo sapiens or even of Homo sapiens Neanderthal, tells a rather different story.

‘‘Welfare’’ appears to be a part of the human condition and has been for more than a million years.

Several prehistoric burial sites have shown skeletons of both of the above (Homo that is, not Friedman et al), that were so obviously injured during life as to be quite incapable of self-help and of having lived beyond any injury they suffered.

This would strongly indicate that they were supported in the manner that these days would be termed welfare-ism.

Other tests by various psychologists have shown that something over 56 per cent of persons are strongly inclined to be altruistic with the remainder variant to a degree according to the relationship with the needy.

‘‘Civilisation’’, so-called, has in the main been governed by systems that required various foods to be distributed in an approximately equal manner to the populace, to maintain wellbeing, and with it peace, and often obedience as to the governor’s wishes.

It is no surprise that from the Romans (bread and circuses), to the present day, television and cash, the system has survived.

The fact that some people will abuse any system of government should also be no surprise, as for the use of drugs, the failure of some families and the proliferation of crime, they were conditions of life well noted throughout the Middle Ages.

And especially in Victorian times when there was no ‘‘Welfarism’’.

I think that investigation would show that changes in work systems, the availability of some valid employment and the increasing use of things mechanical and these days electrical, to reduce the need at least temporarily, of human labour, is and will increasingly be so, a generator of situations resulting in civil unrest.

That, too, is something that has been with us for a long as history. Michael Irving Invercargill

Full steam ahead?

Just for a moment imagine ‘‘Aotearoa’’ as a large cruise ship plying the waters of the south pacific.

The crew have a duty of care for everyone on board – passengers and each other.

For the past nine years – it is an endless cruise – the ship itself has been kept in tiptop condition by Bill, Chief Engineer and now Captain, and his staff.

Unfortunately, during this time, conditions for passengers and many of those looking after them have slipped, particularly those in steerage.

Top deck meanwhile continue to enjoy the best.

No longer the happy place it once was this cruise continues to take on more passengers adding to the growing discontent on board.

Many feel that the focus has been on the ship, and its engineroom, at the expense of those on board.

That it is time to shift attention to the people themselves and restore some of what it was that made this cruise great in the first place.

In a few days we all have a chance to change course. Make the most of it. Daniel Phillips Invercargill

Cabinet prospects

It was reported that Todd McLay recently stated his view that Sarah Dowie would be a minister in the next cabinet.

Hard to believe this when she is only rated at 41st on their party list by the party hierarchy.

Not surprising though as her sole reason for being in Wellington appears to be asking patsy questions of her colleagues at question time. Ray Robb Kaiapoi