$208 million to write a gun register a complete waste of money
IN response to the crime spree, the Government announced a $500 million package aimed at curbing gang crime and ram raids. That is a good use of money.
However, in parliamentary question time on May 12 the police minister announced that $208 million of the total, almost 50%, is to be spent on writing a gun register. That’s $208 million to record the guns held by the honest people who have legal weapons. No point asking the criminals if they have any more automatic weapons, they are not going to tell you. So half the budget spent asking the honest people what small calibre or limited magazine rifle they have. That won’t reduce crime, reduce ram raids, or pay for extra police.
The minister thinks this is best use for $200 million of taxpayer money. There could not be a worse way to waste half the budget. Might as well burn the money, and now more money will have to be spent to maintain it. A ridiculous waste of manpower and money. It's obvious now, with high costs, low wages, crime does pay.
It is a growing occupation, police are stretched, and the recent ram raids on TV show how to do it.
Meanwhile the Government will have a list of what small guns licence holders have.
Maybe it's in case the Russians attack.
Corstorphine
IN reply to John Knox, Christchurch (Letters, 12.5.22) referring to the killing of geese giving children the wrong messages these days. I totally agree with his comments. It makes one wonder how children grow up with any respect for life of all living creatures.
Thank goodness I was brought up with great parents who had no interest in what I guess is called hunting activities. Can’t help thinking, what pleasure does a young child acquire from this?
Amazing women?
Mosgiel ‘‘TWO amazing women needed to get the job done’’, writes Helen Muir (Letters, 13.5.22). Well, good luck with that, they’re in Wellington running the country. And how well is that going?
Alexandra
Electricity increases
DR Richard Meade of Auckland University (ODT, 12.5.22) is wrong in his contention that interference in wholesale arrangements did not necessarily deliver cheaper prices. If he cares to look back in history he will find that the State did in fact have wholesale and retail arrangements re the Electricity Department. Prices only increased when private enterprise took over.
Dunedin