Not Sage advice

You report that Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage is considering a sharp increase in landfill charges following China’s refusal to act as our rubbish bin for plastic waste (Larger landfill levy in sights of Govt recycling taskforce, June 3).

A substantial increase in landfill charges will result immediately and directly in an increase in flytipping.

She need only look at the UK, where a similar approach has led to despoliation of the countryside and a clean-up bill for flytipping that exceeds $100 million a year but hardly scratches the surface of the problem.

It’s hard to imagine a more counter-productive approach than Sage is considering; modest revenues with resulting large cleanup costs and the degradation of gullies, rivers and country roads. She should think again. The ‘‘huge review’’ of the health system will not include any look at our appalling government nutrition guidelines. How can we expect any improvement in the health of NZers or the behaviour of our children or people in mental institutions or prisons? Phillippa Martin, Manakau

Now that Speaker Trevor Mallard is arranging the construction of a children’s play space on Parliament’s front lawn, will he use his unfettered powers to eject wayward MPs from the house, and banish them to the play area? I pity the young ones.

Mike Jarvis, Paraparaumu Beach

One thing that puzzles me about this whole meth debacle is why was Sir Peter Gluckman not a part of the Methamphetamine Standards Committee? Perhaps the advice would have been different if a scientist had been consulted. What is the point of the government having a chief science adviser if it doesn’t use him? Chris Mowatt, Tawa

Tom Scott has a perfect foil for his creativity in political cartoons. But why doesn’t he stay in his own backyard with all the shenanigans going on in the New Zealand Government?

Sandy Young, Napier

I have a suggestion: One of the top tier could build a new stadium for Christchurch with no strings attached, to give something back to the country that nurtured them. We would name the stadium after him/her. Better than a statue or a knighthood.

Kay Townsley, Palmerston North

Regarding the article Owner tangled up in red tape (June 5), maybe it is time that Travis looks at employing ‘‘talented’’ New Zealanders and paying appropriately. This new government via immigration are making it tougher and so they should. I note in the article that ‘‘he had never had such hassles helping staff get work visas before’’. Well, like other employers using overseas people, it is now time to pay up and entice Kiwis to work for you and not those prepared to work for less to gain residency.

Don Eddie, Karori

Mike Hosking states ‘‘economic realities is where James Shaw and his party let themselves down’’. James Shaw has worked overseas as a consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers, and as a consultant for HSBC Bank in New Zealand. Hosking’s knowledge of economics is confined to hosting a series of Who Wants to be a Millionaire, and that was axed after one season.

Ian Findlay, Napier

Must be a very uneventful day when ‘‘UFOs, meditation and salvation’’ appear on page 6 under the heading News.

Chris Mowatt, Tawa