Wednesday write in: Don't sell NZ silver

The Treasury is planing to sell off New Zealand state owned companies Air New Zealand, Solid Energy, Genesis, Meridian and Mighty River Power.
Bill English says he hopes the sale will make $7 billion to pay off some of the Government's $16-$17 billion borrowing debt.
If the 49 per cent sales go ahead and the New Zealand public take up the share offer it would be a satisfactory result to raising the capital.
But then with the foreigners from China, Japan and others lining up to invest in our country it becomes another larger financial problem altogether.
If we buy these shares and at a later date were offered ridiculous amounts to sell to foreign countries would you be tempted to sell?
The sale of power companies shares will only lead to larger increases in the power bills for everyone, that will then lead to further hikes in costs throughout New Zealand in just about everything.
The end result of power company sales is that there will be only half of the millions the government enjoys now to balance its books and all that extra money will be lost forever.
NO, asset sales do not work.
Look at the past disasters our politicians have made selling off our country's silver.
The only way out of the country's financial mess is for the government to stop all this wasteful money they spend and tighten their belts like the rest of us have to.Arthur BottHastings
Farmers and taxIn reply to the letter from William Johnson (May 24) titled Farmer's tax, I agree with the two National Party MPs who took issue with Stuart Nash (Labour) and used terms such as "misleading" and "misguided".
As a sheep and beef farmer, I receive a weekly farming newspaper and I am providing my response from details in a journalistic article in that newspaper.
I believe the "economic illiteracy" is more related to the tax payment of an average $1508 per dairy company/trust being based on the 2009 tax year whilst the $500,000 papers income claim is the expected gross income in this current year - being a superior growing season and excellent returns. I also add that these businesses use a large amount of fuel which we know is very heavily taxed (quite aside of the GST which is likely claimed back).
At this stage I am now adding "mischievous" to the "misleading" and "misguided".
Most of these businesses also employ staff which adds to the tax take.
With regard to William's statement of him not being able to afford power, fuel and grocery bills on an income less than $15,000, giving the $1506-$1508 tax payment. Possibly these farmers are not able to either, which is why so many farmers' partner/spouse, myself included, bring in an off-farm income and why debt levels in the rural sector have been increasing but are now supposedly stabilising.
Perry Field, Havelock North.