Letters to the editor: Drop speed limit and petrol use will fall

Cut speed and save petrol instead of raising taxes, a reader suggests. Photo / File

Saving petrol

I find it hard to understand the Labour Government pushing for an increase in petrol prices national wide and at the same time pushing for a decrease in the speed limit on rural roads.

Surely if speed decreases to 70km/h your petrol consumption is also going to decrease. I have found this on some of my travels from Tauranga to Whakatane, dropping my speed limit to 90km/h, and have saved up to three litres of petrol per trip.

So, decrease the speed limit, decrease the petrol price!

Charles Timutimu
Matapihi

Using rail

To reduce commuter traffic congestion from Omokoroa to Tauranga, would it be viable to use the existing rail line and purchased rail cars with drop offs/pickups at dedicated carparks close to the rail situated at Omokoroa, Bethlehem, Matua and The Strand?

Rather than designing further subdivisions around roads, if they were designed close to current rail with ownership of part of the rail rolling stock it could be good for both the environment and those living in Tauranga.

Ian Davies
Tauranga

Confusing principles

Partnership and other Treaty principles which councillor Margaret Murray-Benge (Letters, March 29) admits she is confused over are derived from a Court of Appeal decision made in the 1987 by some of the finest legal minds this country has ever produced.

It is thanks to the late Justice Sir Robin Brunskill Cooke, seventh president of the Court of Appeal, and his fellow justices that there has evolved a body of treaty jurisprudence which is embedded in many aspects of this country's national life.

Since 1987 there has been an array of legislation that takes cognisance of the Treaty of Waitangi and its principles including the Local Government Act 2002, which councillor Margaret Murray-Benge will be familiar with.

Those same principles help shape the relationship between Crown and Maori, as well as ensure the Maori minority will never be subject to the democratic dictatorship of the majority.

Whether Her Imperial Majesty Queen Victoria or her loyal servant Lieutenant Governor Captain William Hobson RN believed in partnership with Maori back in May 1840 is irrelevant. It's how the courts continue to interpret the Treaty being the foundation document of this country for contemporary times that is important.

Colin Reeder
Papamoa

Thanks do-gooders

Thank you Paul Chapman for your championing of the residents of Wairoa Rd, Crawford Rd, Poripori Rd and all the subsidiary roads who have no option but to use the bridge underpass to access SH2.

We rely on the courtesy of the through traffic to be able to merge on to the highway.

Oversized vehicles cannot use the underpass and are even more grateful to courteous drivers who notice the plight of fellow travellers hoping to (eventually) reach their destination. Thank you to all you "do-gooders."

Shona Purves
Te Puna

Library needed

There is the Tauranga City Library, Papamoa Library, Greerton Library and Mount Library. I would like to see a Welcome Bay Library. Welcome Bay needs to be included. I support building a Welcome Bay Library.

Robert Curtis
Hamilton