IN A FEW WORDS
By now it must be clear to all readers that the majority of letters to The Press are strongly against the TPPA. By inference that would suggest the same applies to most New Zealanders. Now, with dairying being excluded and an even worse outcome for NZ predicted, will John Key have the guts to walk away from the TPPA or will he in future be mainly remembered as the Prime Minister who sold NZ down the river to his financial cronies in other countries?
MARIA ROHS
For those who think the TPPA may actually be in the interests of New Zealanders, bear this in mind. Under this agreement it would be quite possible for formula companies to sue the NZ government for promoting breast feeding without also promoting formula feeding. This is yet another example of how we will hand over our sovereignty to the detriment of our health if our Government are foolish enough to sign up.
BRONWEN SUMMERS
Joe Bennett should stick to his humorous writing as he does a reasonable job with that. However, his powers of reasoning are sadly lacking. He said paying huge sums to shoot wild animals helps preserve them. This does not equate when you consider that elephant and lion populations have plummeted over the last 30 years with both species in Africa being reduced by a massive amount of about 80 per cent. Hunters should pay huge sums to stalk and shoot them with a camera.
DEREK WOODWARD
It is to The Press’ shame that it chose to use the headline ‘‘Left all Alone’’ in bold letters on its front page (Aug 7). The implication of this unfortunate headline is that the surviving sisters of the terrible Waimate tragedy have no support in their grief. They are – and will be continue to be – surrounded by a huge number of good, caring people from all walks of life. Time will only dull the edges of such a familial loss. Support will be ongoing as long as it is required.
WAYNE REID
For someone holidaying now in the London, your Friday cartoon with its cloud of UK names under investigation for child abuse strikes a note of utter resignation. I lived in the UK during the era when these dubious names were, so to speak, living it large. Then, the street rumour mill was busy churning out the names now under investigation, and it is chilling to think that such a long time has elapsed before the allegations were taken seriously. That should have been the case then, and I wonder if these names are not just the tip of icebergs drawn largely from the political and entertainment sectors. I hold my breath and hope that there will not be similar growlers from other quarters drifting into the shipping lanes of our 21st century reality.
JOHN D MAHONY Once again we hear of a person who has proved a large number of times he will not abide by the rules of society. He was let out of prison and wasted no time in committing a grievous crime. If he was a dog, he would of been put down! But we are a humane society. Therefore the rest of us, who do follow the rules, must now be punished so that we can keep this individual in relative comfort. For the cost of keeping this individual, we could be funding more medical operations, more social housing, etc, etc, for those who do live by the rules. But no, we are a humane society.
I EVANS
The whole western world knows about, and is angry about, the killing of the Zimbabwean lion Cecil. There is something obscene about wealthy westerners going to Africa for trophy hunting. The whole non-western world knows about, and is angry about, the murder, the burning alive, of the West Bank Palestinian toddler, 11⁄ year-old Ali Dawabsheh by fanatical Zionist ‘‘settlers’’.
MARTIN GRIFFITHS
Call me childish but I found Murdoch’s cartoon of Aug 5 eye-wateringly funny. Murdoch captures facial expressions and bodily attitudes – even on the cow! – to the life. My hearty congratulations to her. Long may she portay the (non) sense behind events. Tim Groser’s attitude to his employers – or rather, those who pay his wages, you and me – is precisely that of the aristocracy to the canaille in the days of periwigs and footmen. Who does the hell he think he is? We know he is one of those who put the ‘‘mock’’ into ‘‘democracy’’. How come we allowed him to get so far up himself? What a great line from one of your correspondents: ‘‘The rich die richer and the poor die younger.’’
BILL HOLVEY
Drivers in other parts of the world: 1. Iindicate 2. Brake 3. Initiate turn
Kiwi drivers: 1. Brake 2. Initiate turn 3. Indicate
Why?
DOUG JOHNSON