TO THE POINT

While Finance Minister Bill English is pleased to announce a strong surplus for the year and the possibility of income tax cuts in the forthcoming election year, the district health boards (DHBs) are finding it difficult to make ends meet. People working in the healthcare sector are not interested in reading about possible tax cuts, they would like better-funded DHBs which will result in better working conditions, and more choices in treatments for their patients. The Resident Doctors’ Association strike intends to signal this. LINDSAY McTAVISH, Johnsonville I suggest establishments that use a lot of plastic bags should have a bin within their premises/shops where frequent users can drop their used plastic bags for the shop owner to recycle or dispose of. TESS RYAN, Karori For years John Key has been bringing in skilled migrants instead of training our young people in these skills and saving them from the scrapheap of his neo-liberal vision. This pushes house prices up and the hope of our youth down. His actions cleave our society into the haves and the have-nots. Why, then, do the media never question his strategy? Dr KIT WITHERS, Wellington Judith Collins finds a billion dollars to provide 1800 more cells for a spiralling population of criminals, particularly those committing domestic violence. Her Government has failed to protect its citizens, is clueless about crime prevention or prison reform and now requires law-abiding people pay for the damage. I call that common assault. BRIAN MACKIE, Napier 7am and I have just read Joe Bennett’s article on Bob Dylan (October 19). Tragic for Joe but superb for me. Absolutely hilarious; set me up for the day.

PETER MOYES, Paekakariki