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:
Doggy-doo not the only hazard on our beaches
Re Doggy-doo hazard (Your View, May 5). We have lived in the Mount for 11 years and take our dog and/or grandchildren to the beach at least once a day.
Doggy-doos are not the major hazard on our beautiful beach; discarded disposable nappies, broken glass, metal and plastic containers, buried food, burnt/smouldering furniture and fast-food containers are what you are more likely to confront on the beach.
It's more likely to be human waste than dog waste littering the sand. Ironically we often see our neighbours returning from walking their dogs carrying not just their own dogs waste, but plastic bags full of such rubbish.
Most disgustingly, people regularly use the dunes and beach accesses for their own toilet needs. To quote Heather Shaw: "Potentially hazardous, toxic, faecal excrement which some irresponsible, uncaring members of society think is acceptable to leave ..."
We were recently exposed to the results of this vulgar act as we walked down a popular beach access with used and stained toilet paper blowing about in the breeze.
Heather asks dog owners to show that they care about the rest of the community. Everyone needs to show that they care about the rest of our community - even hamster lovers.
Denise Gibbard, Mount Maunganui
Time to wake up
Re Rugby clubs forced to take sponsor signs down (Bay of Plenty Times Weekend, May 7).
The act of attacking the sporting codes this way is typical of the dictatorship this council is becoming.
Is the council going to support the sports by giving them money thereby cost the rate payer considerably more? Come on council, get off the grass, wake up.
Russell Bird, Taumarunui
Wedding a delight
Like Jinty Rorke (Guest Editorial, May 7), I too thoroughly enjoyed watching the royal wedding. Even Grace, the grumpy little bridesmaid was cute. I am sure those photos will be shown at her 21st birthday.
The busiest person on the day was Kate's sister Pippa who will now, if not previously, be swamped by suitors. Imagine the social-climbing mamas with an eligible son.
These young royals are far more in touch with the common man as they now live and work among ordinary people.
Kate is descended from the coal miners of Durham and I have an ancestor in common with William through the line of the Queen Mother.
I enjoyed not only the handsome couple, but the shots around the 1000-year-old abbey, the history of London as they drove to the abbey, the photos inside the doors of Buck House.
I was surprised by the choice of Parry for their music, in fact I had to look him up. Handel (buried in the abbey) or Beethoven might have been more appropriate given that the family's more recent history was of the House of Hanover.
What a week we had - the royal wedding, Osama's demise, and a tornado all within five days of each other. I guess the rest of the year will be taken up with the elections and the Brash/Harawira roadshow providing the headlines.
(Abridged)
Robin Bishop, Pyes Pa
Cats need homes
I was delighted to read that Jon Jon, the elderly cat abandoned outside Bayfair Vets has found a lovely new home (Bay of Plenty Times Weekend, May 7). I hope she settles in and brings happiness to her new "parents".
However, I also read that about nine other people offered to give her a home. If these kind people are seriously in a position to be able to offer a home to an adult cat, may I please ask them to visit the SPCA in Greerton?
There, they will find many other adult abandoned and lonely cats who, unlike Jon Jon, have been waiting for months for a new home. They all have lovely personalities ... some quiet, some playful, some smoochy and some a little more independent, but all of them have clearly been someone's pet before and would make delightful companions again.
Just because their own personal story didn't hit the headlines, doesn't mean they are any less deserving. Go on ... pay them a visit and see which cat chooses you.
Jan Cooper, Tauranga
Not the answer
Re Driving age change: rural backlash (News, May 6)
Once again the farmers trot out their age old argument against raising the driving age. How do they think farmers cope in countries where the minimum driving age is 17?
I believe that the Government is only fiddling with this problem. It should have done the job thoroughly and made 17 the minimum driving age. In addition, after qualification, new drivers should be on probation with restrictions and carry a plate on the vehicle to identify them as newly qualified drivers as is done overseas.
Stan Garmonsway, Stokes Valley
Text Views
* There r 2 many dumb pple with dangerous dogs in town. most pple dnt have the experience 2 Stay Still and that's an issue.
* What sort of government can n z expect if some brash bloke can so easily push out an elected m p. Doesnt say much 4 his backers. Ann
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