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:
Cannabis use not so safe
About 50 years ago unidentified persons in the United Nations released a raft of policies taken up by the then Values Party which became the Greens. One item was the decriminalisation of cannabis.
Smoking of cannabis was promoted as pleasurable, harmless and its effects physiological. At that time enough was known about the harmful effects of regular cannabis smoking to contradict pro-cannabis propaganda. Such warnings were ridiculed.
University intellectuals were a prime target, flattering their superior intellects. The purpose of this attack on the health and brain function of the public was not stated. One suspects it was to create a population of zombies who could be easily controlled.
Ivan Harper, Pyes Pa
Enough of dogs
Dogs, dogs; why do we, the dogless majority of ratepayers, have to suffer them? Dog droppings, dogs barking and all too often dogs doing what is after all innate to the species, horribly biting and tearing flesh. The arrogance of dog people knows no bounds. How often do we hear "my dog is just a pussycat"?
It is sickening sensible suggestions include: treadmills, so that dogs may exercise at home or perhaps more practical, all dogs mandatorily muzzled in public places. We the dogless await the day when we may say "Dog people; choose which" the rest of us have long ago had enough.
E M Goodland, Te Puna
Extra imposition
Our garage owners are now faced with instructions from council on introducing the necessity of keeping records of the disposal of the waste oil, dirty rags, disused oil filters etc from clients' cars that are being serviced. They have to record where they are stored and who picks them up to dispose of them. Maybe car owners will be asked to bring in containers to take the used items and get rid of them themselves.
Garage owners have enough to do with repairing your car without this extra imposition.
I hear now that some garages will need to have half round wooden stops at the entrance to the workshop. Who is responsible then if someone trips? Accidents happen. Notices, warnings, don't help. Please keep our garages doing the job they know best without bureaucracy.
Dave Breckon, Hairini
Enforce bike laws
Re: Cyclists
When is the government going to fully enforce the cyclists' law, which they hastily brought into law, where one must wear of a helmet and be fully visible with lights in the darkness hours?
It would be very interesting to get the statistics from ACC of cycle related accidents without helmets/lights.
Its appalling how many of all ages openly flout this law 12 months of the year, causing mayhem in the darkness hours, for they are a nightmare for motorists and pedestrians alike.
Why isn't our local MP Simon Bridges, ex crown prosecutor, who sits on a law and order select committee, ensuring the public and asking the ministers of transport/ACC/Health/Police why this law is not being fully enforced.
Wouldn't it be nice if the police let the motorists alone for a couple of months to fully target and enforce the cyclist law (it would be a lovely cash injection earner for the government who are crying out for money). What is our justice system worth if the laws put into motion by our incumbent politicians on the goodwill of New Zealand citizens is not upheld fully in principle.
Doug Wilson - WBOP Grey Power
Distorting truth
The PC brigade are at it again. In a remake of the classic film The Dam Busters - a tribute to the air crews of the 617 Lancaster squadron who carried out the attacks on the Mohne and Eder dams in the Rhur valley in Germany's industrial heartland - Wing Commander Guy Gibson's black Labrador dog Nigger has been renamed Digger so as not to offend anyone.
Apart from distorting a historical truth it appears that these days many familiar words and sayings that enriched our language are no longer acceptable including much-loved children's stories.
Little Black Sambo, Noddy and Big Ears and The Black and White Minstrels are no longer broadcast. Even Gershwin's great epic of the South Porgy and Bess is seldom if ever heard because "niggers all work on the Mississippi" is considered offensive. We certainly live in interesting times.
Roly Hammond, Matua
Change of use
I am disappointed with Bill Holland's reaction (Your View, June 16) to your article. He appears to have become sidetracked by three words rather than thinking about citizens who live in the area that could be adversely affected in a number of ways by this "change of use" and are having trouble being heard.
I am sure most people know of the good work that is done by the Legacy Trust but I for one am not willing to trade the happiness and homes of my fellow citizens for additional profits to be distributed back into the community by the Trust.
Annie Findlay, Mount Maunganui
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