A thank you, too, to local MP Todd McClay, to The Shed and also the mayor. Hope we can make it back again.
WALLACE CHAPMAN
Presenter
My wife and I love to walk and always get a cheerful nod and a "g'day" from the people we meet. It is pleasant, friendly and comforting. There are, however, drawbacks to walking in open spaces - uncontrolled dogs.
There are very stringent laws about controlling dogs, but most appear to be ignored by some people - those who believe a fierce dog makes them look bigger and scarier and those who believe their dog wouldn't hurt a fly so needs no leash.
Some dogs are gentle and just being friendly when they jump up at you with their muddy paws but it's not always nice.
I love dogs, was brought up on a farm where dogs were a part of the family and we had dogs when my children were at home, but they were trained, obedient and loved.
Some countries have outlawed certain breeds considered dangerous but I've seen dogs of this calibre in Rotorua. There have been several reports recently of dog attacks, made by dogs that should, perhaps, not be allowed.
Walking near our home recently we had to take a diversion because of two dogs sitting on the pavement outside their homes. That's clearly not good enough.
It always distresses me to hear of a dog attack. Dogs need not be vicious. In Northern Canada, we encouraged wolves by throwing them scraps. They kept the bears away. I never heard of anyone being attacked by them and you can't get any more wild than that.
JIM ADAMS
Rotorua
After reading Bert Robinson's always informative trout fishing column last week, I feel compelled to write and clarify the regulations and the erroneous headline "Boaties must keep distance from stream mouth". I was the angler "deemed to be in the wrong".
With the lakes at a 30 year high level, vertically challenged anglers like myself (ie. under six feet tall) find it very difficult to wade the rivermouths as in other years. I therefore have tried fishing it from my little dinghy.
On the three occasions I have fished there, ensuring a distance from any wading angler, I and other boat anglers have been loudly abused by a lone spin angler. As this is upsetting and spoils the ambience, I rang Rob, CEO of Eastern Region Fish and Game to report this antisocial behaviour and he was going to have one of his rangers call and talk to the gentleman concerned.
I would like to assure any angling readers that it is clearly stated in the regulations that fishing is legal from an anchored boat at Hamurana and other Lake Rotorua stream mouths.
(Abridged)
R BOWDEN
Rotorua
The Crafar decision is a victory for economic rationalism over blind xenophobic nationalism. Long may the former reign, says Fran O'Sullivan.
What xenophobia?!
Aside from the nationalistic aspects of keeping New Zealand farms in New Zealand ownership so we can pass something on to the next generation, there is pure economics in keeping land in New Zealand hands.
Ms O'Sullivan must be aware that selling or even leasing farms into offshore ownership means we lose the incomes from those farms. Instead of profits accruing to domestic owners and being spent here, they flow into foreign bank accounts.
By what possible measure does losing profits to Australia, America, China, Germany, etc, make economic sense? Answer: none.
This is precisely why Middle East governments seized control of their oil wells - to keep the profits for themselves instead of allowing "The Seven Sisters" (oil companies) to accrue the wealth.
Earth's population is currently seven billion. By 2050, it will number nine billion. The countries that stand to make vast profits will be food producing economies. But only if we own the farms can we keep those profits. Otherwise, someone in Boston, Berlin, or Beijing benefits. That is common sense.
Being a "cheerleader" for Germans, Americans, Chinese, etc, corporations will not help us one iota. But it will make us poorer in the decades to come.
FRANK MACSKASY
Upper Hutt
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