TO THE POINT

With the mayhem in Australian and Queensland politics this week, a John Key takeover bid could be a win-win proposition. GRANT GASCOIGNE, Queensland How many times have cricket lovers got to say it is a greater game when it is played at the Basin Reserve? I’m sure that the cricket players would say that the atmosphere at the Basin is far superior to Westpac stadium. The Basin Reserve is known as a cricket venue around the world. KEITH FLINT, Brooklyn I find it outrageous British foreign secretary Philip Hammond should come here and try to influence policy by saying we should send troops to help fight ISIS. What’s it going to achieve? Put a generation in harm’s way? Back to Blighty with you, mate. RODGER HEDLEY, Napier So councils want more money out of ratepayers. Have they ever heard of the phrase ‘‘living within your means’’? And who are the Joneses they are trying to keep up with? Councils might have great ambitions, but bleeding the taxpayer is not a healthy option, nor a bottomless pit. Even councils have to learn to say no to things they might want. JOAN TOLMIE, Masterton In your story about councils after cash (February 4), only one of the eight ideas would work brilliantly. A provincial tax (local) that works like a payroll tax at 3 per cent, capped at 5 per cent. Then we could scrap this horrible land-based and envybased tax. GAILE PORTER, Havelock North If local bodies want more money, again, a good starting point is looking at their core functions. Most can be contracted out, saving millions. Then, think of the millions that could be saved by dismantling the most redundant organisation in local government, regional councils. GRANT BIRKINSHAW, Kelson