A quick word

In the year 2040 if water is still free; if we still have the right to swim; Nick Smith promises 80 per cent of the time it will be safe to swim in. Will all the pure water be sold to overseas- based companies? Steve Russell, Hillcrest. “I shot an arrow in the air, it fell to earth I know not where.” But it was addressed to clean rivers, 2040. A. Rickard, Onerahi. The police say the damage done to Ron Goodwin’s rental property is a civil matter, therefore they are not involved. I would have thought [ tenants] smoking and manufacturing P or other illegal drugs was a criminal offence. Fred Jones, Te Atatu Peninsula. Resumption of national retirement, wealth-creative NZ Super Fund contributions should be a priority over freely consumable tax reductions. Jens Meder, Pt Chevalier. Escargots for politicians, garages for the homeless. New Zealand egalitarianism? John Clements, Orewa. Good on Marine Le Pen for refusing to cover her head for a meeting with Lebanon’s Grand Mufti. Ms Le Pen was there to talk about policies, not have the Sunni leader and his aides obsess over her hair, neck and shoulders. Fiona Allen, Papatoetoe. It is interesting Marama Fox should liken Labour and National to different coloured undies. Perhaps she should have a word with her compatriot Tuku Morgan. He is an expert on pricey underpants. Brian Spawforth, Napier. I suggest the servile Japan Day maids are not too sexy but too sexist and so, like other misogynistic, submissive Japanese practices now consigned to the past, don’t travel well. R. France, Devonport. Many cities around the world have signs indicating air quality. Auckland should have some then we could all see just how clean our air really is. Dave Fisher, Howick. In 2008 payments to the Super Fund were suspended for two key reasons. The first due to the global financial crisis and, more importantly, because the outgoing Labour Government had emptied the till. A. J. Petersen, Kawerau. Your correspondent Susan Nixon’s dismay over Australia allowing Muslim boys to refuse to shake their female teacher’s hand is fine, but her description of non- Muslims existing in a state of servility, while correct, ignores the fact that any gay person or atheist is liable to be executed under Sharia “law”. Neville Cameron, Coromandel.