In a few words

Re Chemical warnings on processed meat (Jan 12), why is something this critical just listed cryptically in the fine print on the back of the package as ‘‘Preservative 250’’ or whatever? Since sodium nitrite is carcinogenic it would be in the public interest as well as a good marketing ploy for producers of nitrite-free processed meats to display boldly on the front of their packages that they are nitrite-free just the same way as gluten-free products are presented. Rick Herzer, Maungaraki

Peter Baynes (Jan 12) rightly refers to the major cause of our road deaths. Ignorance, impatience, arrogance and stupidity of the drivers themselves. No amount of road engineering will stop some from killing themselves and innocent others. Perhaps the focus needs to be on education, better driver training, driver skills, knowledge of the road code, and, heaven forbid, mandatory driver retesting for certain infringements. Should New Zealand look at lowering the speed on all highways to start with? Maybe advertising a car’s top speed and how quickly it gets to 100kmh is not helping either. Bernard Whaanga, Crofton Downs

Killer roads? I don’t think so. Educate road users, they are the killers. Let’s introduce heavy fines for exceeding the speed limit, driving over the limit, even ban all alcohol while driving. Let’s get real, accept that it is people, not roads, that are the problem. Spend the millions on other problems, maybe housing and health. Hazel Herbert, Lower Hutt

Further to Jim Pearce (Letters, Jan 12), I noticed, on Saturday, a pack of cyclists four abreast riding up from the Wellington Rd roundabout. Two on the footpath, two on the road and none on the dedicated cycleway between them. How much longer do we have to keep installing cycleways that barely anyone seems to use? Is this another ‘‘makework’’ scheme for underemployed council workers or another vanity project for the council? Tony Sutcliffe , Strathmore

Attacks by Forest & Bird and Charlie Mitchell (Flaw in SPCA’s stand, Jan 11) need to be based on science. The estimate of 25 million birds/nests destroyed by stoats should be balanced against the 27 million mammals, mainly rats, mice and possums, they kill at the same time. My calculation is based on all 31 studies of stoat diet listed in The Handbook of NZ Mammals.

These are the predators that might result in birds ‘‘being eaten alive’’, not stoats. Quoting the handbook, ‘‘small mammals and birds are killed in seconds with a swift and accurate bite at the back of the neck’’.

But I agree with Mitchell that mice killing birds the size of an albatross are a real danger. They should be taken out of the system first, while every other predator is helping us to keep their numbers down. John Flux, Waterloo