The Bay of Plenty Times welcomes letters and comments from readers. Below you can read the letters we have published in your newspaper today.
TODAY'S LETTERS:
No results from bullying at school
It's hard to believe the can of worms that got opened after our story of assault at TGC went to press.
I have been overwhelmed at the response of others who came forward to air their own experiences and thank those who have supported us through this difficult time, as I feel this has been quite undeserved. I have to admit we turned down TV station coverage and a follow-up story, simply because I want closure.
After five happy years at TGC, I want my daughter to leave with happy memories, not blighted by these bullies or feeling let down by her peers. So what has been resolved? Sadly nothing.
Ball games are still being played in the area that instigated the assault.
Still no personal letter of apology to the girls who were assaulted.
So, as much as I would like to say I am happy with the outcome, unfortunately I am not. So we will just slip back into the woodwork, letting our daughter finish her time at school with as little interruption as possible, and let's hope the school will now deal with these incidents.
JILL BAYLIS, Tauranga
Jaundiced view
Do you wonder why schools keep the media at arm's length? Look at the overly large headlines whenever young students do something out of line. Yes, it was a bad incident, the board of governors must have been hard pressed to make that decision - no decision would be acceptable to both parties involved.
Where are the large, black headlines for the 14 girls who have represented NZ in sport so far this half year? Where are those headlines for the students who won the World Championship in Future Problem Solving Competition overseas last month, or when one of the music or drama groups gave outstanding performances? The principal of the school is the same principal who has overseen the education of these and such girls, who are 95 per cent of the school population. Tauranga Girls' College is a microcosm of the same society we all live in.
I feel that most newspapers today give a very jaundiced view of young people. I look forward to reading articles where emphasis is placed more on positive aspects of college life, and where any negative happenings are placed alongside the good happenings, not always elevated above in large, black print.
JUDITH PHILLIPS, Tauranga
Tax on fuel
When the Hon John Key fulfilled RD Nell's dream of an ETS, he promised that New Zealand would not be a world leader but a fast follower on global warming issues.
Now Julia Gillard, facing increasing public opposition to Labor's proposed "carbon tax", has attempted to sweeten the pill by declaring, categorically, that the tax would never be applied to petrol - despite this being Australia's third-largest and fastest-growing source of greenhouse gas emissions. "For many, many Aussie Battlers on Struggle St, this would be too burdensome, so they won't pay a cent more at the petrol pumps because of the carbon Tax", she said. This from the lady who also said, prior to the election of her minority Government, there would be no carbon tax.
So Mr Key, are you going to do the honourable thing? How rapidly will you become a fast follower, as promised, and abolish the futile ETS tax on vehicle fuels ?
DAVE FINNEY, Matua
Waste of money
The comment by Fur Council chairman Steve Boot on the economic value of possum by-products underlines the great potential to harvest, utilise and sell high value exports instead of mindlessly wasting taxpayers' money on destructive 1080 poison drops. Possum fur is currently worth $135 a kg to trapper/hunters. That is over 30 times the value of crossbred wool and without costly inputs of fertiliser, grass, animal health products and burgeoning compliance costs farmers face.
In addition, possum meat must have potential for Asian markets and pet food manufacture. Indeed it has and one Bay of Plenty firm several years ago processed possum meat for pet food export to Japan. That export market collapsed - cancelled overnight - when Japanese TV screened New Zealand's aerial 1080 bombardments.
Besides, the use of 1080 is undermining the ecology of our countryside. It kills not only possums but insects and invertebrates that are food to native birds. In non-fatal doses it diminishes male fertility. So if it does not kill, it renders males infertile and diminishes breeding.
The recent report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment calling for more 1080 lacked credibility and independence since she, as a Government employee, was praising a practice run by the Government, which owns the 1080 plant at Whanganui.
So much for NZ 100 per cent pure brand. (Abridged)
LARRY BALDOCK, Leader, Kiwi Party
Sheer ineptitude
The crazed lemmings that constitute the masses bemoan the past, dredging details with dirt.
Yet, right here, in the pages of this very paper, our elected local politician has boasted of the good money spent locally.
Am I the only person who read these figures? I may not be a rocket scientist, but I was of the poor subdural impaired perspective that spending twice as many millions on court buildings as school buildings was an admission of ineptitude.
While the Government continues to live off alcohol and tobacco tax, they will remain New Zealand's biggest drug-peddling gang, and will generate that much respect.
Cast off our shackles, reward the good, invalidate the bad.
J G ANDERTON, Mount Maunganui
Text Views
* This Council will never be business orientated as NONE of the current mob of councillors have ANY business ability whatsoever. Time 4 a big change sometime soon
* I think in cases of animal abuse we shld brng bak public flogng n hard labor
* Cr Catherine Stewarts election CV states that she has past experience in tourism but her actions over the Mt Hot pools indicates that she is more anti tourism.
* In regard to the hot pools I bet Cr Catherine Stewart is only giving 1 side of the debate whereas as a councillor she should have an open mind not a closed one!
* We live in a world with double stands when "corporate Kronic" is legal but canabis is not. If I were young I know which I would choose.
* So who is the ashkan realist from otumoetai college who litters? Cool artwork on the pavement
* There use2b a magazine within the dog fightn scene, cald'd the square circle, any1 involvd needs help 2 realise, that what they do is so unnessisary , sick and cruel. Make an example of this [person] cut his ears off
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