TO THE POINT

I refer to To avoid HIV, women must simply take own precautions (Letters, March 14). How can one be so wrong on so many points, use such pointed arrows on such long bows, and survive to 2012? I suggest Allan Golden stays under his rock. CHERIE RANDLES, Tauranga Now that councillor Clive Solomon has succeeded in abolishing a peaceful Christian prayer before Wanganui District Council meetings and events (March 13), I assume he will also threaten to agitate against all forms of Maori welcome and ceremony, especially the aggressive challenges involving weapons. JEFFREY KENDALL, Waikanae Local Government Minister Nick Smith rightly expresses concern over debts incurred by local government, with Wellington’s total debt of $116 million heading this region’s list (March 12). Shouldn’t he also try to persuade his own Government, borrowing $250 million-$300m a week, to set an example? PAUL MEARS, Tawa It’s interesting to read that the Government – Big Brother – might legislate for councils to toe the line on finances. That’s like saying ‘‘Do as I say, not as I do’’. Local Government Minister Nick Smith’s party can spend our money as it pleases – for example, on asset sales, which we don’t want but that it says will be good for us. KATY HARDING, Levin Let me congratulate Grey Power (Opinion, March 13) for realising that members’ interests can’t best be served by remaining aloof from politics. JUNE LEWIN, Wadestown I refer to allegations about cricket match-fixing (Sport, March 13). Should we be looking into this too deeply because the practice has, more than likely, helped the Black Caps with their world rankings – all those top teams that, all of a sudden, we beat . . . PETER MCCOY, Wainuiomata Prime Minister John Key says the Government will keep student loans interest free with the debt ballooning to $14 billion in the next three years, and will lay off public servants who earn $40,000-$60,000 to make savings. Odd. The Government needs new batteries in its calculator. KEVIN GODWIN, Kelson I refer to Jeannie Fayerman’s comments about your Five-minute Quiz (Letters, March 9). Our suggestions for renaming it are the 5km knockoff, the 25km stumper or, less politely, the 250km b****** that we can’t knock off. A sheaf of accumulated, albeit tattered, quizzes accompanies us when motoring, regularly, from Hawke’s Bay to the Capital. MARGARET TAYLOR, Hastings Well done to columnist Karl du Fresne for exposing once again the hypocrisy and cowardice of our society, in which the most vulnerable of our citizens, namely the unborn and newly born, are afforded no legal protection whatever (Opinion, March 13). Shame on us all. JOHN GILBERTSON, Napier