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Fiasco at the top

It is very hard for me to find words that help me understand what a shambles our Government system really is.

We have a man who surfaces every three years, about three months before and election, rubs everyone up the wrong way, makes accusations about all sorts of stuff (mainly against political opposition parties) and when asked to substantiate them does nothing.

He cannot even win his own electorate seat in the main general election.

And yet here we have him strutting round like a selfimportant hero holding the country to ransom.

Under the first past the post system his NZ First team would not have made the cut.

Once again, his mouth saying he will have a decision as to who he is supporting on October 12 and when that passes he now, bold as brass and twice as brazen, he stands on national television and says it could be as late as Monday.

For me the whole system is a damn great big joke.

According to Google there are only four other countries in the world that us the MMP system.

Let us get back to a system where the people who actually vote at the booths have the say, not politicians holding the country to ransom. Jack Sheehan Roxburgh Abridged - Editor

Waterfront beach

For Lake Te Anau waterfront development I propose the importation of sand and a beach area be made in the bay at the end of Matai Street.

There are popular beaches on the west shore of the lake such as Dock and Brod Bays but these require walking to or access by a boat.

These beaches also have prolific sandflies while the east side of the lake there aren’t any.

The lake is a beautiful asset to the region but I believe you should not have to have use of a boat to enjoy its beaches.

The existing bay to the right of the public boat ramp and at the end of Dusky Street is a popular spot for families and this is steep with a gathering of gravel.

Resource consent for this proposal would be required from Environment Southland.

Options for non-imported sand (by consent) could include:

Sand reclaimed from within the lake such as river mouths or Tui Bay.

Here there is easy access when the lake is low and has good quality sand.

At present sand build up is cleared from the boat harbour and is taken away and dumped.

This source could be utilised and stored locally for maintenance of the beach.

Monitoring of the sand would need to be made with maintenance needed and making a pile for this on secure council land could be an option.

Sand loss through wave action, water flow and fluctuating lake levels would have an obvious impact so I propose dropping test piles of sand at areas along the water’s edge to identify strong and weak areas of erosion.

Concentration of sand for enhancing the stoney beach could then be made in certain areas.

For this proposal to proceed, the community will need to back and support it.

Please feel free to provide feedback. Ben Thomas Te Anau Abridged - Editor

Homosexuality

Thank you James Smith, of Alexandra, for reminding us of the erosion that is taking place to the good values that once were in abundance in this fine country of ours.

I lost a brother to aids many years ago.

He lived the high life like there was no tomorrow and partied hard and was up for anything, drugs and all.

When he passed away I couldn’t shed a tear, he lived for his gratification and no one else’s.

When I was very young homosexuality was illegal.

Years later it was deemed to be okay between consenting adults.

Following that it appears to have become considered a lifestyle choice by many folk and almost promoted as such by the media.

I pray I won’t be around when our soft law makers make homosexuality compulsory. Ray Wilson Mataura