Snail mail
I agree that the New Zealand Mail Service is a joke, there is no such thing as Fast Post system any more, and deliveries to most suburbs have been reduced.
It is my belief that the system has been downgraded so that one is forced to opt for the more expensive Courier Post system out of pure frustration.
As we operate a Reusable Produce Bag business, designed to replace and reduce the use of single-use plastic bags, the irony of having to put such a product inside a single-use plastic courier bag is just too much for me so we opt for Snail Mail - all joking aside.
Alf Weston
Matua
Referendum on museum needed
I read councillor Larry Baldock proposes a referendum (News, January 31) to change the electoral system in Tauranga from First Past the Post (FPP) to Single Transferable Vote (STV). This proposal is clearly, in my view, driven by his support for STV.
However, Mr Baldock, as chairman of the Museum Committee and a great proponent of a museum for Tauranga does NOT favour referenda on the subject of a museum. I wonder why? My guess would be that a citizens' vote on building a museum would be a resounding NO.
How can council consider building a museum plus fund the annual running costs when ratepayers and citizens have no idea of the true historical value of the multitude of items held in storage? How do we know that 30, 40 or 50 per cent of the items are not just sentimental junk with no real historical value to the 'story' of Tauranga?
The catalogue of items is yet another mystery that ratepayers are unable to access.
Maureen J Anderson
Pyes Pa
Keep the TECT cheque
Regarding TECT's proposal, the scariest part of the article (News, January 26) is this: "If the change proposed is voted in, TECT will move from being a consumer trust to operating solely as a charitable trust."
But, in my view, it was set up to benefit "Trustpower's customers in Tauranga" and "to ensure Trustpower's success was shared with its local customers" - those who gave up the cheaper power we had from our own local power station.
I have been a loyal Trustpower customer all the time I've lived in Tauranga and am appalled at the $2500 "pieces of silver" to give up our rights as Tauranga/Western Bay citizens. The rights were put into TECT's power for the benefit of consumers.
What arrogance, in my view, by the TECT trustees who are charged with protecting the rights of all Tauranga/Western Bay consumers.
Many people have been loyal to Trustpower since its inception, watching the growth with, including a top New Zealand IT provider. It's what's kept us loyal, accepting higher power prices than elsewhere - that, and the annual cheque for our loyalty.
S M Lankshear
Tauranga
Moving the problem
The council says traffic merging in at 15th Ave is causing congestion shock waves (News, January 30), but that is exactly what they are doing with their hair brained plan for Hewletts Rd. Just moving the problem further down the road.
Rhys Evans
Mt Maunganui
Teacher recruitment issues
In 1958, after serving eight years in the RNZN and completing a teaching diploma, I was appointed to a position at an Auckland co-ed college.
As there was a teacher shortage, recruitment was sought in the UK and graduates, with art degrees, but no teaching qualifications, were offered two-year contracts with airfares to New Zealand and assistance with accommodation.
As they lacked teaching experience, they were to 'train on the job' and were sent to classrooms to observe teachers and as one chosen to assist I was expected to inculcate the principles and practices of teaching.
Their salaries were £1000pa. Mine was £615pa.
The Government did not consider that by improving the extremely meagre teaching salaries in New Zealand, they may have solved the problem locally.
Bryan Johnson
Omokoroa
