Simply use some of the money which would be saved from the hypothesised reduction in car crashes when motorists observe the speed limit.
So if the authorities are serious about reducing the crash rate and continue to insist that speed camera fines are not simply a revenue-gathering exercise, here is an opportunity to put your money where your mouth is.
Alan Willoughby, Welcome Bay
We foot bill
In response to Rob Davies (Your View, August 29) you can lead a horse to water but unfortunately you cannot make it drink, and this is basically similar to encouraging people to vote in local and government elections.
Of course it is important for people to vote but if the correspondent seriously believes that this right is being eroded just because future candidates cannot place posters and signs on ratepayer-owned land then I feel that he is not correct.
My opposition to the existing signs policy for local body elections is purely that the cost of enforcing the policy is not borne by the person erecting the signs but by the ratepayers, and this is not justifiable in times when ratepayers are facing double-digit rate rises.
Surely all councillors who have stated that they are genuine in reducing ratepayer costs will support the proposed new policy which will make Tauranga similar to many other councils throughout New Zealand.
Mike Baker, Bethlehem
Cruelty abhorred
I was outraged when I read the article (Bay of Plenty Times, August 27) about two pigs in a paddock being attacked and savaged by three dogs, aided and abetted by their two owners.
The two men are despicable cowards, holding the pigs down while their dogs savage them - and even worse, filming what was happening. Five against two defenceless animals with no thought to their suffering or their owner's distress.
It has been proved that humans that display cruelty to animals often go on to commit violent criminal behaviour towards other people. Now that these three dogs have tasted blood I doubt they will be selective in who or what they savage next.
The two men drove away with one of the injured pigs, no doubt to continue the cruelty where they left off. These two men and their dogs need to be caught before more harm is done, so if anyone out there knows who it is, I implore you to phone the police on their anonymous call-free phone line, listed on page 38 of the white pages. Next time it might be your livestock, your pet, or your child. (Abridged)
V Dunn, Otumoetai
Concern over title
It's an outrage. We have an event boldly named The Real Tauranga Festival, part of which is a series of concerts. And who do they have as performers in these concerts? Three are tribute bands. You have to be kidding.
Being about Tauranga I would have expected all the artists to be from ... Tauranga I suppose.
On the scale of originality and creativity I would place tribute bands - no matter how well they do their act - right at the bottom.
This is a disgrace and I think the organisers need to offer an apology to all local performers. And maybe the event should be given a new title.
Warren Brown, Tauranga
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