Dornauf’s hat

In response to Peter Dornauf’s editorial (April 17), the Tauranga Citizens’ Club executive, management, staff and members endeavour to welcome all our members, their guests, affiliated members and their guests into our club.

The receptionist on duty on the day in question asked Mr Dornauf to remove his hat as our rules do not allow hats to be worn in the club room unless the hat is for a good reason eg medical, religious or for themes such as the Melbourne Cup.

Mr Dornauf refused to remove his hat and the manager was then asked to come to the counter. The manager also asked him to remove his hat, he again refused and ask why he should, was again told that those are the rules and the club employ the staff to ensure the rules are upheld.

If any of our people visited Mr Dornauf at his private residence (clubs are private) and were asked to remove their hat or shoes which could be part of their identity, they would not hesitate to do so as a show of respect to the hosts.

The manager asked his partner if he wore his hat at their dinner table, she said no, but yet wished to wear it at ours.

Mmmm go figure.

Stephen Hawkings

President

crime. Prisons are however necessary for even temporary relief for the public at large to be free from the violence of those who are determined to hurt, demean and even kill their fellows. Yes, our acquisitive and selfish society is responsible for the production of socalled criminals and deviants, yet it is disingenuous to hint that any particular ethnic group or even the collective of those European ethnicities we label as being Pakeha are the ones responsible for our unstable society. Maori like the rest of Kiwis are happy to uplift these modern ‘‘blessings’’ of the internet, drugs, etc. Rainga tells us that Maori did not have prisons, yet they did have a justice system they called, utu, a facet of which was ‘‘just’’ vengeance, and often involved whole tribes going to war over a killing or even an insult . . . much as the world does today. There are many potential killers among our own people of all ethnicities, whose brains have been addled by drugs, confused by their own social hurts, and even birth disabilities. Until the unlikely event that society believes in equality, fraternity and love, and is willing to put its money where its mouth is, we will surely need prisons.

Dennis Pennefather

Te Awamutu

elderly for walks, pushing wheelchairs, entertaining old folks in rest homes, helping people with disabilities, reading to the blind and other acts of kindness.)

What I saw was a group of ‘‘skinny’’ women in expensive clothes, most of them showing too much chest, dripping with expensive jewellery and rings, sitting around (or standing) yelling at each other, criticising and condemning one another and drinking champagne.

These women will never be real housewives – they haven’t helped anyone or achieved anything.

With all that time wasting and garbage, no wonder they ended up with Donald Trump for President.

Laurie Polglase

Hamilton