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Good gardening
The are three things in life that one cannot get away from: Taxes, death and rubbish. So, we all have to make rubbish work for us.
As you know, there are leaves falling from trees that gather in the gutters everywhere, so it’s a good idea to put them in the layers of your home compost. Another way to use the leaves is to bag them, water the leaves with a hose (not too much) and tie up. After a few months, empty the leaves on to the grass, hose again and spread out the leaves.
Do this about four times a year until the leaves are broken down and rotten.
To make seed-raising mix: One part sharp clean sand, one part leaves, two parts garden soil. Mix the ingredients and shake. A lot of people are composting in Palmy. I’ve done a few demonstrations over the years to teach people.
Alistair Cameron
Palmerston North (Abridged)
Support for Clapperton
Mayor Feyen’s outrage about the filtered emails at Horowhenua District Council needs to be filtered itself in terms of the reasons behind the toxicity that seems to be the prevailing climate in the council at present.
The leaders elected for the council should know that the public may use the tone they pick up from their leaders as the ‘‘OK tone’’ to use when communicating with the council.
That the CEO is protecting his staff from abuse is commendable.
I have, myself, been at meetings where council staff has been the target of offensive and racist abuse.
Any abuse directed at staff is unfair and inappropriate as staff are unable to respond in kind, even to defend themselves.
In the days before emails the procedure was always to direct queries and concerns through the CEO who then passed the matter on to the staff concerned.
This kept him informed of issues arising as well as avoiding personal abuse of the staff.
Many people seem unable to separate the issues they have from the personality of the people who have to deal with them.
When our leaders are unable to do so as well, it is little wonder that the public have lost sight of the appropriate behaviours.
If people had to commit their concerns to paper rather than jumping into an email in a rage, maybe the communications would be more enlightened and civilised.
There are plenty of trolls out there.
They should not be allowed to spout vitriol freely.
Lone Morris Jorgensen
Tokomaru
Smokefree thanks
The Manawatu Cancer Society offers congratulations and thanks to Palmerston North City Council, council staff and local cafe staff for your belief and continued commitment to the health and wellbeing of our community.
It is encouraging to see that the recently released evaluation report of the PNCC smokefree permit conditions for outdoor dining illustrated positive support by hospitality managers of the new permit conditions of no ashtrays on the tables and smokefree signage being displayed.
Together, we all have a role to play reducing the impact of tobacco in our country.
The next time we enjoy the smokefree outdoor dining experience at one of our local cafes, we can take heart from knowing that we are now a step closer in the journey towards our ❚ Firewood from China? How stupid, but there it is on the shelf in your local hardware store. Nuts. ❚ Where’s the welcome home for our Black Sox softballers winning 7th world title. Shame on NZ. mike ❚ You can imagine the men on the Horowhenua council with their peacock feathers erect. All trying to outdo each other. There is no room for egos in today’s society. ❚ Good move, Gabriele, free advertising for your shop opening hours. I follow the truckies over the Saddle. Let experienced drivers lead the way, rather than the rally wannabes in their 4WDS. ❚ Why would anybody vote a person into Govt who has admitted to fraud? After taxpayer money again, hello? ❚ What a great idea to run say 3 or 4 return trips daily from Woodville to Palmerston North. Buses could meet at station and bring folk to i-site. Only require about 3 old carriages with a diesel loco. Too simple, eh? ❚ Goodie, with a Labour Govt my pension will double. It will need to, to meet the status quo. Robo ❚ Why cameras in buses - was on bus Thursday and a car pulled out from in front of bus! Something wrong with car driver’s eyes, maybe. ❚ Let’s get rid of beggars on Broadway by competition. Let’s start up busking on Broadway.
Jobs for the boys
Police Minister and deputy PM Paula Bennett hurriedly attempts to put to bed the Todd Barclay affair when she said the scandal ‘‘didn’t affect Kiwis in their own lives’’.
‘‘Scandal’’ implies sex and/or money, neither seemingly the cause of the Clutha MP’S woes.
In February 2016 Bennett wrote a public letter of adulation for then Horowhenua mayor Brendan Duffy before he lost the October election.
Duffy has since enjoyed a meteoric rise in several handpicked, Governmentsponsored appointments.
Could Barclay be similarly rewarded for failure?
Or is there a job for Barclay in foreign parts?
Christine Toms
Tokomaru
C