Government failings make cartoon material
WITH the regular mishaps from our current administration, such as the cost of living payments monies going to expat Kiwis now living overseas, and even money going to dead people, to the fiasco that is Three Waters — that most Kiwi ratepayers don’t want a bar of because they see it as just more central government control confiscating assets owned by them, the ratepayer. The sad situation of stranded Kiwis living overseas trying to get home during the Covid pandemic only to have to undergo the heartless lottery system imposed by government.
Our current hospital emergency situation, with a serious lack of qualified staff, a lot of hospital staff at breaking point agree that some of this situation is Covid related, with many health professionals from overseas wanting to come and work in New Zealand but being stalled by unnecessary red tape compliments of our inefficient immigration department. The whole housing fiasco — no not the shortage of building materials — but so much promised in the form of lots of new houses, but so far very little delivery.
Our failings in the education sector, we used to be a beacon to so many countries who admired our education system, and also the mess the Government is creating trying to centralise our polytech industry. I could fill another two or more pages on governmental failings but . . .
Anyway, my reason for writing is to inform your very leftleaning cartoonist that he doesn’t seem capable of balance when it comes to political satire. He’s very quick to jump on the Opposition when they make a blunder. So in conclusion, some political balance in the future Mr Yeo.
M.J. Dempster Mornington
Historic buildings
MORE than several months after leaving part of King Edward St a brickstrewn mess, a fence now proclaims the new generic glass and steel to be put up, and proclaiming ‘‘the proud history’’ — the very history which they destroyed. While there was no question the fireravaged W&R buildings were ‘‘had it'’, why on earth was the most notable character facade of the buildings bowled? I refer to the twostorey bay window Victorian facade. It must have been near 150 years old, and of the same architecture as many quaint seafront buildings in English towns. While it did have a characteristic tilt, which seems to have been something in its design, it was one of the most notable in the area. Not perhaps as notable as the leaning Tower of Pisa obviously, or the leaning buildings in ‘‘The Shambles’’ of York, it was a sure part of what is supposed to be New Zealand's heritage capital. Surely, bracing the facade with RSJ's, restoring and incorporating it into the new was not insurmountable than putting the digger through 1.5 century's worth of local history with great gusto last November.
Paul Jeffery Dunedin Central
Council satisfaction
WHEN a councillor asks (ODT, 18.8.22) ‘‘Does the community trust the council?’’ they, and the departing councillors who deemed the city ‘‘to be on the right track’', could refer back to the council’s own Residents Opinion Survey where they will find the answer on page 60. Here it states satisfaction with the mayor and councillors is at 25%. I had tried to contrast that with how the University of Otago would rate such a result, but their grades don't go that low. It appears the question is asked and answered.
Duane Donovan Bradford