A quick word
On returning to New Zealand after 23 years overseas, it looked like I had found paradise. But why do we glorify alcohol when it is responsible for so much violence, death and injury? Why are New Zealand products like milk, meat and protein powder cheaper to buy overseas? Why is electricity cheaper overseas when we produce our own? I was shocked to learn of our high suicide rate. Have we lost our way?
R. Hughes, Takapuna. The comments of Danish politician Mary Krarup and netballer Irene van Dyk seemed to anger people. Are we becoming such a politically correct or soft people that we can stand no criticism? Why do we have to go on the warpath to defend ourselves? Are we not allowed any more to say what we feel or think? Can people not cope with that any more?
D. Hoekstra, Papakura. Of all the Government’s cock- eyed cost- cutting proposals and measures, the closing of hospital kitchens and outsourcing pre- cooked reheatable meals has to top the list. Not only will it cost jobs but there is an unacceptable risk of vulnerable patients being exposed to the likes of campylobacter, listeria, botulism, salmonella, and other nasties.
James Megson, Rotorua. There is not much good nutrition in reheated airline meals but most of us do not eat enough of them to worry about this. But eating such food while sick in hospital for weeks or months will not help you get better. If the present system is inefficient, fix it. It makes sense to have food prepared as close as possible to where it is being eaten.
Jean Little, Glenfield. Have the Ministry of Health bosses accountable for the welfare of their patients eaten any of the meals provided by the proposed outsourced contractors? If not, they should be required to do so before making this decision and at regular intervals thereafter. And only if they can eat them should this proposal be allowed to proceed. Simon Monks, Beach Haven. Are the idiots advocating adding a million people to Auckland those whose empire- building council will receive more rates revenue? This is lunatic avarice. The area is already crowded and inefficient, yet we continue to prove we cannot plan for anything. Rob Campbell, Red Beach. An article headlined ‘‘ Teachers will protest across the country on Saturday’’ included a photo of a young person holding a banner with the word ‘‘ only’’ misplaced. I hope she was not a teacher of English. It is sad when a message intended to remind us of the value of teachers betrays the possibility of a decline in some of their standards.
Paul Callaghan, St Heliers.