Not justified

Regardless of whether the majority of Waipa¯ ratepayers disagree with Waipa¯ District Council making a $150,000 donation to France for a commemoration, the elected councillors will not listen to those who elected them.

They will carry on with their agenda, which has proved to be the case with too many projects in recent times.

I personally don’t remember this subject being mentioned in the 10-Year Plan.

$150,000 would go a long way to getting our own memorial fountain back in working order.

To suggest that a lot of people will visit a memorial in France is pie in the sky mentality as it is becoming a struggle for ratepayers to keep up with increasing rates, water bills, environment rates, rubbish disposal costs and day-to-day living costs.

Many more people will visit our parks than will ever venture to France. Charity begins at home.

FLORENCE STEVENSON

Te Awamutu

Editor’s note: The donation to a memorial war museum to be built in Le Quesnoy, France wasn’t included in the draft 10-Year Plan document.

It was raised in a submission during the 10-Year Plan consultation process in March and discussed by Councillors during deliberations in June.

The possibility of the $150,000 contribution was part of an article in this publication on June 12 this year headed

Councillors may add an extra $2.56m to 10-year plan budget.

On July 3, under the heading 10-year plan sets district’s future the outcome of the deliberations were reported — including Councillors agreeing to contribute $150,000 for a memorial war museum in Le Quesnoy, France, contingent upon fundraising targets being met and the project being confirmed and approved by French authorities.