Letters to the editor

WE all know that Dunedin citizens were under enough financial pressure through massive annual rates increases and record debt before Covid19. The pressure will now be considerably ramped up by lack of business and the concomitant business closures.

We need to see fiscal restraint from both councils by slashing the proposed rates increases and parking the unaffordable harbour development.

By all means, dig up George St, and renew its ancient sewers and water mains, and bury the overhead power lines and generally spruce up the area, but listen to the business people — do not shut out traffic.

On a global scale, Dunedin is but a village. There is not the population (or weather) to constantly fill George St with freespending pedestrians. This will be particularly evident when the students are absent.

Each generation should undertake capital projects that will benefit them and future generations, just as our forebears have done.

The Otago Regional Council requires a new home and has, I believe, squandered some

$10 million in its quest. South Dunedin citizens have requested a new library for years but surely such a small city does not warrant two libraries.

Our library does not have to be in the CBD. Why not build a new library close to South Dunedin that will satisfy all?

An ideal spot is the underutilised Market Reserve. Picture a multistorey library alongside, and over perhaps two or three levels of car parking. The ORC could take over and totally revamp the present library building, placing it squarely in the CBD and just a few metres from the Dunedin City Council building. A covered walkway would be useful if the councils are ever combined.

Think of a modern, attractive library that caters for readers and the digital age far into the future.

I am asking the council and our citizens to think about this proposal and its clear benefits, and make it this generation’s contribution to unborn generations. If we must be in debt, let it be worthwhile. Kevin Casey

Kenmure

[Abridged]

McIndoe obituary

I BELATEDLY read the excellent tributes by Brian Turner and others to the late John Hector McIndoe (Obituaries, 6.5.20), pertaining primarily to his role as a publisher.

I believe it is appropriate to also pay tribute to his and the company’s part in the incredible contribution he, and three generations of the McIndoe family, made to the printing industry in Otago and the influence they had on the lives and careers of hundreds of men and women in

Dunedin.

I was employed by John McIndoe in 1979 to supervise the installation of computer typesetting and to formalise a sales department within the company.

The culture of the company at that time is best illustrated by relating one incident. John asked me to call at his bank to cash a personal cheque for him, which was unusual as there was usually cash on the premises. I discovered accidentally, some months later, that a staff member in financial difficulties had asked for an advance on his wages. Without being asked to, in order to ensure the confidentiality and avoid potential embarrassment for the staff member, John had withdrawn the money from his personal account and made the payment in person.

This was typical of the man and the company and the reason many tradespeople worked for them for their entire careers, some for 50 years.

For me and many like me, it was a privilege to work for

John and Bill and they are fondly remembered with gratitude.

Brendan Murphy

Highcliff

Pandemic plan

IMAGINE if, next time a pandemic hits, no job is lost, no business destroyed, and no damage done to the economy.

For businesses forced into lockdown, all expenses are frozen — wages, rates, mortgages, electricity, insurance, and so on. These costs do not accumulate. It’s as though we slept for six weeks.

To pay for this, the Reserve Bank creates money to pay the wages of every suspended worker, and pay councils, banks, electricity companies and insurance firms, replacing lost revenue.

It can be done. In the 1930s, Reserve Bank credit built thousands of state houses. Businesses which cannot quickly bounce back receive extra funding. The newly created money is either never paid back (my choice), or an interestfree loan to the Government. To save 139,000 tourism jobs, several other countries are encouraged to adopt our pandemic plan and, when victorious, join our bubble.

Longterm, the Government encourages a switch towards creative, innovative, mainly internetbased businesses which thrive during disasters. Luxury tourism produces more dollars from fewer visitors.

To avoid devaluing the dollar, a new law restricts the use of new money to exceptional circumstances or genuine wealthbuilding infrastructure.

Experts improve this plan so we’re ready and act fast when the next pandemic lockdown is needed.

Allan Gardyne

Cromwell

Campaigning

I DON’T have any personal animosity towards National’s Taieri candidate Liam Kernaghan, though I do still somewhat resent his attempts, as my high school prefect, to impose detentions for my socks not being pulled up.

It’s for reasons far more principled and less personal that I wish him nothing but political humiliation and ruin.

I happen to think it’s extremely cynical, though actually a wee bit funny, to see a National Party candidate complaining this year’s Budget doesn’t offer enough government support to

Hillside railway workshops.

John Key’s government, which young Liam crusaded for zealously, famously murdered Hillside and chose to import trains from China rather than build and repair them here.

Hillside has only begun to recover in recent years, and the National Party has denounced this Government’s support for rail on multiple occasions.

Getting his campaign going with such a dishonest and cringeworthy start doesn’t bode well for what’s to come.

Alastair Reith

Wellington