Support for Parkinson’s appeal much appreciated
I would like to express my gratitude to the people of Hawke's Bay for their support for those with Parkinson's here in the Bay. Many thanks go to all the volunteers who front up each year to collect for our annual street appeal and to those who put money in the buckets they hold. Without this effort we would struggle to maintain the services Parkinson's HB provides which is to support, educate and inform people with Parkinson's and their whanau.
The $19,000+ collected will be used for our community educator (registered nurse) to visit those with Parkinson's in their homes.
Once again, a huge pat on the back to the people of Hawke's Bay for their time and donations. Kathy Jenkins
Parkinson's HB
Port submissions
Mr Ward’ s letter of 27 November points out the low level of submissions from regional ratepayers to the sale of the Port options, and concludes that a referendum is therefore necessary to decide the issue. It’s this low level of submissions that is precisely the reason why a referendum would be wrong in this situation, and indeed dangerous. A 4.9 % takeup by the ratepayers means that 95.1% couldnt be bothered to respond, or are totally disinterested, or have no opinion, or are too lazy to investigate the matter,or had their letterboxes raided, or some or all of the foregoing. Giving these people any more chances at all to torpedo what the experts and our representatives have concluded, would be irresponsible.
Thanks Mr Ward for highlighting the issue. Duncan Priest
Te Awanga
Trump’s loss
Recent midterm elections were not a “complete victory” for Donald Trump on any historical basis.
Last time a Republican president faced his first midterms, Bush managed to increase his majority in congress, not lose it. As for the Senate unlike the house only 35 out of 100 seats were up for election, many in working class, pro Trump districts. This makes 2020 interesting because most of the Senate will be up for election including anti Trump seats which weren’t contested in 2018. In 1974 Democrats already had a majority in Congress. Watergate came to a head forcing Nixon out so Democrats significantly increased their majority. The Russia investigations have not climaxed as Watergate had in 1974. But if the growing numbers of guilty pleas, cooperation deals with prosecutors and indictments of Trump people is any kind of indication, then 2020 looks dangerous for Republicans. And it won’t just be the midterms either. If the GOP could return to being a party for the rule of law and constitution, like the one which helped take down the Soviet Union, instead of the Kremlins advocate or banana republic it has become today, the Republicans and the world could function better. Richard Tuck
Taradale