New ideas needed to replace coal in industries

THE coal transportdisruptive activities of Extinction Rebellion protesters have been in the news lately (Letters, 1.5.21).

One letter notes that the rebels would not want to see railed coal being replaced by trucking. This misses their point, which is that there should be no use of coal, let alone the transport of it.

However, assuming they are rational people, they may be placated somewhat if all users of significant amounts of coal for energy were to publish their complete programme for coal replacement, including a timeline and verifiable waypoints (purchase of new equipment and so on).

Replacing coal in steel and cement production will take time, and new technology will be required.

However, it would be helpful for the coal companies providing for these industries to partner with government and monitor overseas research, with a view to giving a date for closing the mines.

Steve Moynihan

Cromwell

Boer War

I WAS very interested in the article by Bruce Munro on the Boer War (Weekend Mix, 26.4.21).

In the early 1980s, I was working in the BNZ agency at Port Chalmers and there was a picture on the wall of the welcome home procession up the Main Street in Port Chalmers for those returning from South Africa.

It was a most imposing photograph and I was wondering where it is now, as the agency in Port Chalmers was closed in the mid’80s.

Thelma Saunders

Ocean Grove

Hospital discharge

I WAS dismayed but not surprised to read the headline yesterday (ODT, 19.4.21).

In 2007, my mother (born in 1914) was told to leave Dunedin Hospital about 10pm. My mother lived in Tapanui. It was the middle of winter. Fortunately, my son had shifted to Warrington. He was able to get to the hospital and take my mother to his home.

I wrote a letter of complaint to the ODT. Obviously nothing has changed in 14 years.

J. Metzger

Tapanui