TO THE POINT

Departing England to establish a new home in New Zealand, I feared a loss of cricketing tradition – test matches remembered for inclement weather, modestly sized crowds, contentious decisions and the customary middleorder batting collapse. It seems my fears were unfounded. TONY BIRTWISTLE, Newlands It’s preposterous to believe that anyone would pay members of the Black Caps to play badly when they are so often willing to do so for free. PHIL MITCHELL, Wellington Nice to hear about civil-service economies. I presume that there will be corresponding reductions in Cabinet and ministers that are too busy to waste money on globetrotting. BRIAN BAGGOTT, Paraparaumu I accept Rob Talbot’s assertion in his recent letter (March 15) that he still possesses all his marbles. But, clearly, he has spat his dummy. ALAN DAVIES, Karori As a resident of one of the ‘‘dormitory cities’’ with which Chris Parkin thinks Wellington must not be burdened (Letters, March 1), may I point out that the dormitory cities, for their part, might have no particular wish to be burdened with Wellington’s level of debt, its leaky houses and the earthquake strengthening of so many of its buildings. KILIAN V de LACY, Waitangirua Asked in October 2010 what impact raising GST to 15 per cent would have on superannuitants, Prime Minister John Key proudly announced that his Government had granted an immediate increase of 2.02 per cent to cover it. What he failed to say was that the assistance was temporary. What surprises will the Government have for seniors at the time of this year’s cost-of-living adjustment? WINTON ALLEN, Waiwhetu