Bernard Walker, Mt Maunganui.
Bring back the old poppies
Whose idea was it for the RSAs to have paper or light cardboard poppies? I have worn and lost two before Anzac Day. Also, I used to get two or more poppies and put one on the grave of my World War II veteran father and another on that of a friend, also an ex-serviceman. But not so with these new poppies. Bring back the old poppies.
Dennis Manson, North Shore.
American support
Those of us born in the 1940s will never forget the moment when the newspapers arrived carrying full pages multiple pictures of NZ soldiers killed in the Second World War when we sat around the table hoping and praying our father wasn’t one of them and will also never forget the commitment those soldiers had that victory in this war would ensure New Zealand would never be invaded by foreign invaders and thanks to them and their allies it hasn’t.
We should also remember the Americans victory at the Guadalcanal without which the Japanese would undoubtedly have invaded NZ and the resulting considerable loss of life. The gun placements around Auckland serve has a reminder of just how close that invasion would have been. The American influence ever since has shaped our lives and in many cases NZ actors has made their fortunes there. So those who would oppose Aukus or even delay joining it and I include the PM have no right at attend memorial services on Anzac day.
Gary Hollis, Mellons Bay.
Climate change
Letters regarding climate change continue to appear almost daily. Personally, I am not a denier but have doubts about the causes. The majority focus is on anthropic activity mainly use of fossil fuels. If that is true, why are we not getting letters with suggestions on the alternatives. Sure, we hear about wind, solar, geothermal, tidal; but no means on how the power is to be used without the use of fossil fuels to manufacture the equipment, to generate, distribute the power and make use of it.
Should we no longer rely on these fuels, what are the alternatives? Do we kill whales for their blubber to make candles? Do we cut down more trees for heating and cooking? Do we bring back large herds of horses for transport? Do we reintroduce slavery to ensure agricultural productivity? Obviously, none of the above. I call on all contributors to come up with a solution to resolve this dilemma.
Dick Ayres, Central Auckland.
Teen investment plan
I have been reading David Seymour’s proposal to give every Year 11 student $500 to invest in financial products. The concept is brilliant and long overdue, but why does it have to be real money? Especially when our Government is broke, and the required $30 million will have to be borrowed and added to our already bloated debt. Not to mention, millions more in a new department to administer it.
The whole exercise can be done on a computer programme with the same educational advantage.
Remember, even the most experienced financial advisers often get it wrong.
Paul Gretton, Gisborne.
Free, but who pays?
I note Glen Stanton suggests making all public transport free and getting rid of the diesel excise tax (Letters, April 24).
I have to ask, who pays for this?
I see he suggests Labour announce this as a policy as we go into the election.
Once again, I ask, who pays for this?
More borrowing, greater debt!
Paul Mason, Rothesay Bay.
Wealth tax
Matthew Hooton says any incoming government he could support after the November election would have to “slash government spending”. However, it is disingenuous of him not to be specific about what he wants to cut.
Does he advocate reduced disability support? Less public transport? Cuts to health care, public housing and education?
My own prescription would be for an incoming government to introduce a wealth tax with a view to rebalancing the economy in favour of the majority. Because under the reigning economic orthodoxies of the neo-liberal economic agenda Hooton supports, simply relying on the extortionate profits of the few to “trickle down” seems laughably inadequate.
Janet Charman, Avondale.
Appalled by ‘racism’
I, among many others, feel absolutely appalled by the recent highly offensive and racist comments made by Shane Jones in relation to Indian people. It is totally unacceptable for any person, let alone a Member of Parliament, to make such outrageous comments. To add insult to injury, neither Winston Peters, as leader of New Zealand First, nor the Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, called out these comments for what they are. Shane Jones is nothing less than a pig in fancy dress.
Roll on November 7. New Zealand is in desperate need of a government or coalition of the current times and with integrity. That certainty doesn’t describe the current one.
Andrea Willett, Whakatane.
NZ First stance ‘clear’
At last, some transparency from NZ First. It is clear now, with the India free trade agreement and Shane Jones’ “butter chicken tsunami” comment, that NZ First is after the racist vote. We’ll see whether that clears 15%.
Gavin Kay, Remuera.
Slow and steady
In the race to win the upcoming election, I’m reminded of Aesop’s famous fable of the hare and the tortoise. Many are asking when Labour will reveal its plans, egging it on to let us know. Meanwhile, the coalition is hopping about, promising this, mocking the Opposition over that, trying to rewrite history for its own benefit and fighting within itself to the point at which it’s becoming hard for us, the voters, to understand what its intentions are. Does it really know?
In my opinion, Labour is taking the more sensible approach, making sure that whatever it offers will be thoroughly researched, and for the betterment of our country. As most will know, the moral of Aesop’s story is that slow and steady wins the race. I believe this is the path to follow. It’s time for reason, not chaos, to take the place it deserves in our lives.
Jeremy Coleman, Hillpark.
A Quick Word
If Enid Blyton were still alive, she would certainly have been inspired by the National Party backbench to write another book. Five With An Axe To Grind In The Beehive?
Alan Johnson, Papatoetoe.
Dunstan Sheldon (Letters, April 24) makes a good point when he argues for civility and fairness in our public conversations. People who make ad hominem attacks may benefit from an awareness that such attacks advance neither their arguments nor their reputations.
Chris Cottingham, Te Henga.
At Woolworths, we bought a 2-litre tub of ice cream marked as a special for $5.00. At the checkout, we were charged $6.29. Why don’t their computer systems automatically adjust the prices at the checkouts? Perhaps Woolworths could enlighten us?
Christopher Paxton, Papatoetoe.
We’re used to politicians dreaming up stupid ideas in election years, and David Seymour’s latest, giving every Year 11 student $500 to learn how to invest, is right up there. Seymour floats a $30m fund to boost teen money skills. Hopefully, it will sink without a trace.
Lorraine Kidd, Warkworth.