Letters To Editor: Duff's legendary contribution

Duff's legendary contribution
His advisers told him to declare bankruptcy five years ago, but no. He was determined to try to pay off all his creditors and try he did: two new novels in two years, which sadly didn't attract the audience or the revenue that they deserved. No man could have tried harder and no shame was greater held, but it just didn't work out.
He lost his home in Havelock North and his mate in France offered him the cottage attached to his chateau to stay in while he tried to get his life back and write the novels that would repay his creditors. He does not live in the chateau and it is misleading to suggest he does.
He wrote one of the most defining novels in our history, which challenged all of us as Kiwis and outsold any other homegrown novel ever.
He also founded and drove with passion the Books in Homes Trust, which has put over 7,000,000 books into NZ homes.
Every child in NZ who has gone to a decile 1, 2 and 3 school over the past 10 years is a "Duffy kid" and has received at least five free books to take home.
It was he who insisted that the kids should choose and own the books, and it was he who insisted that they needed more books.
I know that he is deeply saddened that his actions have caused small creditors to lose their money and that there is no excuse for that.
We can only say that he did his best to try to correct this, but failed.
This will always be part of his legacy but so will his great novels, his wonderful movie, his world-class Books in Homes project, and his rebellious and challenging spirit.
REX GRAHAM & SAM KELT, Hawke's Bay
Thanks for help
This is a small token of our appreciation for all the care and support we received when the Christchurch earthquake took place on February 22, 2011, and our husbands - Rodney Marsh and Kevin Lockett - had to be airlifted from Christchurch Hospital to Hawke's Bay Hospital.
To the pilot who flew the air ambulance, along with Dr Mike Park and Dr Lucas Lehmeyer, to the flight nurses Marg Gudgeon and Kelvin Still, to all the specialised doctors, registrars and nurses who looked after our husbands and us, while in the intensive care unit.
To Lola Davis and Ann Cliffed of Taradale.
To Reflections Hair Salon in Gascoigne St for our hair-dos.
To Shirley Simmons of Taradale, Fiona Noel, Hanna Jemma and Toby Russel of Napier, Bev Allen and Shirley Baylis at the Women's Dinner club.
To Magpie supporters in Central Hawke's Bay and a sister from Wellington.
To Liz and daughter Jenny of Hastings, to the hospital security, Barry and wife Lee-Ann. To the girls at Little Elms.
To Tony and Sally Bryan and also Paddy.
To the hospital chaplains, Barbara Pelly and Prue, to the doctors and nurses, physiotherapist and Sarah Atley of the rehab unit.
To the girls in Zacs cafe.
Thank you, Flowers by Chilton. A thank you for the fresh apples and baking that was dropped off at Little Elms. Thank you again for your support in our time of need.
MARGARET MARSH and PAT LOCKETT, Christchurch
Ageism an issue too
I am surprised that there have not been any letters about the views of Alasdair Thompson. Women should be paid the same as men for the same job, otherwise it is discrimination, of the worst kind.
Unfortunately, Alasdair Thompson belongs to a generation of dinosaurs that should have been extinct a long time ago.
The major discrimination in "Godzone" is ageism. If you are over 50 it is nearly impossible to get a job.
In the past four years I have applied for over 300 positions. If I manage to get an interview (98 per cent do not even bother to reply), I get asked questions like when are you going to retire, how are you on a canoe leg for a triathlon, or you are too highly qualified.
I am proud of my degree, in computing.
For the past 2 years I have been a volunteer at a church as their accountant, using MYOB, reconciling up to 18 bank accounts, getting all accounts ready for the auditor (this is for two days per week), and still cannot get paid employment.
The older people like myself are more likely to stick with a job, are reliable and honest. We just need a fair go. So the dinosaurs are still there in our community.
ERNEST SEADON, Napier
Questions raised
Re: Alisdair Thompson and his comment on why women were paid less.
My memories of the event were: media asked a question. His reply was unsatisfactory, so they asked it again. Still he did not give the answer they wanted. So it was rephrased. Eventually they got an answer that suited them.
Question: Did he mean it?
Follow the sequence. Was the answer the media homed in on not a response to the media not having the nous to understand his answers to the earlier question?
Question: What relation to the comment is his ability to do the job he's paid for? Is there someone capable of doing his job? Will people or organisations be at a disadvantage if he is sacked? Will emotionalism take precedence over practicality? Can society afford to have this man removed from his job, to satisfy morbid emotionalism?
RUSSELL SYNNOTT, Napier
Voting systems
In the lead-up to the general election in November there has been much discussion on democracy and questions whether our current form of MMP is delivering on its promise to address the unfair representation of First Past the Post. In the late 1970s, the third party, Social Credit, polled up to 21 per cent of the vote but found themselves unable to win seats, which favoured National and, in spite of polling only 37 per cent of the vote, National won the election.
The tail well and truly was wagging the dog.
Much was made of the German system of MMP and it was argued that if an economic powerhouse like Germany could thrive under such a system, then surely it would be good for New Zealand to emulate.
As a result, MMP seemed to be favoured and pushed.
Unfortunately, our version does not have enough checks and balances and your correspondent, Alan Rhodes', letter of June 29 covered some of the reasons why it is failing to deliver.
I have great difficulty in accepting that a person who has never been elected by the public can come into Parliament through the back door and, not only sit on the benches of Parliament, but in addition is handed a high-profile position of responsibility. One such person is Chris Finlayson, the Solicitor General, who presided over the foreshore and seabed conspiracy.
It has been demonstrated that backroom deals and loaded select committees can usurp true democratic processes, as can the ability under MMP to jump over to another party or even create new and racist ones.
It would seem that in our haste to instil equal representation and therefore increase democracy, we have also allowed any party with extreme views to potentially hold the balance of power, which in itself is undemocratic.
At this juncture, I am extremely concerned - particularly since the election is barely five months away - at the lack of educational material on the various methods of proportional voting systems, in order for the public to make an informed choice in the referendum.
The Single Transferable Vote seems to be by far the best of the bunch as it means that your vote will not be wasted and Parliament will be made up of genuinely elected representatives, and I would urge your readers to go online and familiarise themselves with it.
KEN R TAYLOR, Hastings