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
Only nation with tax on milk makes us a scandal
I was not surprised the other day to read that New Zealand is the only country in the world to tax milk. Starvation in the midst of plenty.
What a scandal - GST on basic food is a deliberate decision to tax the poor, so that they can reduce the rate of taxes on higher income earners and reduce the tax on large companies.
Their excuse for not excluding essential foods is that it's too difficult to do so. What a nonsense. The largest food retailer in the country is Australian-based, and they have all the experience they need as basics are already exempted over there.
To bring it in in New Zealand, all they need to do is transfer the Australian programme here.
Anything else is a downright lie.
C PURCELL, Mount Maunganui
Bad planning
I would like to comment on the recent reports of "events clashing" in Tauranga.
We have been in the motel business in Tauranga for almost three years now and are continually amazed at the frequency with which events occur at the same time.
It's very frustrating to have to turn potential business away one weekend only to be struggling to fill rooms the next.
The suggestion of accommodation providers outside of the industry is just rubbing salt in the wound when we are all struggling to survive.
Perhaps homeowners could also open up their homes and provide meals to help the busy restaurants.
Surely with so few events during the year it is possible for the events co-ordinators to ensure that this does not happen again.
JAN WILLIAMS, Baywatch Motor Inn
No secrecy please
Regarding World Cup secrecy (News, April 15).
I agree with Murray Guy that discussions on this matter should be in the public arena and not held in secret. There are too many matters discussed and decisions made in secret by the Tauranga City Council.
It's the ratepayers that will end up paying whatever decision is made, so in a matter such as this they must have a say.
I expect the response to this will be the old chestnut that is produced every time, that it is "commercially sensitive". It definitely is but to the Tauranga ratepayers only, as they will foot the cost.
In my opinion the boot should be on the other foot.
Ratepayers should not be paying to host three Rugby World Cup teams. Rugby New Zealand/the Rugby World Cup organisation should be paying Tauranga City Council for the use of its facilities and to host teams.
I completely disagree that TCC has an obligation to Rugby World Cup to prepare city sports fields for use by the teams. If Rugby World Cup want teams to use Tauranga's sports fields, then they pay their way.
Tauranga ratepayers get landed with unnecessary costs, Every time a coconut.
ROGER BAILEY, Papamoa Beach
Obvious conflict
Councillor Murray Guy is to be commended for divulging that one of our elected representatives has clearly failed to grasp what conflict of interest means (Bay of Plenty Times Weekend, April 9).
I understood that newly elected representatives were given Local Government NZ training, to ensure they understood their roles and responsibilities.
Did Councillor Catherine Stewart miss this training the first time she was elected and, if so, why was she not provided with training this time?
Training aside, I would have thought it would be obvious to any councillor that making a public submission on a matter that was later to be considered by council would mean automatic disqualification from adjudicating on the same matter in an official capacity.
Good on Mr Guy for bringing the transgression to our attention.
G PURCHES, Sterling Gate
Longer jail time
Aren't you dead yet?
That is what the would-be murderer said when he beat the policeman with a machete. Surely that should tell you the type of sub-human he is.
Once again we hear from the judge what a horrific and vicious crime this is. He then sentences him to eight years' jail (not the 14 years that is the maximum for grievous bodily harm).
The Parole Board will just about halve that sentence - why, God only knows.
The poor police officer was the closest he could come to death and still live.
Why won't these judges give the maximum? Have they no feelings for the victim? Policemen are obviously replaceable.
Simon Power just tinkers with law reform and takes no notice of the leniency of sentences handed out.
Judges have too much leeway. People go to jail, they behave well there and get out after the Parole Board releases them early instead of making them serve their full sentence.
It's time to get rid of the Parole Board as they serve no useful purpose to law-abiding citizens. Those who pay judges (the taxpayers) should have the right to hire and fire them on election day.
D WARNER, Papamoa
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