Letters to the Editor: Public sector wage freeze is alarming

The Beehive. Photo /File

I find it alarming that our illustrious servants in Wellington have decided to extend a wage freeze affecting the likes of health and education at a time when we are in a rebuilding phase following the financially punitive lockdowns of the past 15 months.

What are they thinking? Surely, it's fundamental in a rebuilding stage to have at least these two sectors performing with a sense that they are supported and appreciated.

Public gratitude displayed in flowers and encouraging emails puts no extra bread on the table.

The Prime Minister has compared our response to the Covid recovery in other countries, touting our economic signs as positive, but it seems to me it matters not a jot or tittle what others do, the cold is felt here and blankets in England don't keep Kiwis warm

A close family member recently found themselves in hospital and was blown away by the care received from this understaffed, overworked and underfunded service.

This same person works in education and sees continuing anomalies there as well.

We muzzle the ox that threshes out the grain at our peril (Deut 25:4). The $200 million headed for the tourist sector may well be enough to stem the tide of threatened departures from these essential services.

John Williams
Ngongotahā

Drivers' responsibility

Three single-vehicle crashes have been reported in less than one year on the same tight bend on SH30 at Lake Rotoma, two of them involving fatalities.

The cars ended up in the lake and, fortunately, no other vehicles were involved. There are several tight bends on SH30 from Lake Rotoiti onwards, most have barriers and all are well marked with highly visible advisory speed signs of 35km/h or less.

The signs mean what they say and drivers who ignore them show unacceptable negligence and do so at their peril.

NZTA can only do so much to make our roads safe - it is the responsibility of drivers to avoid endangering themselves, their passengers and other road users.

Ronald Mayes
Westbook

Ban cage fighting

Two of your correspondents think boxing should be banned.

Okay, fair enough, that is their view.

But, in my opinion, cage fighting and kick boxing are far worse.

Cage fighting is brutal and must surely do more damage to the brain so to me they should be banned.

In town, I have seen young teens trying to be like their cage-fighting idols - punching and kicking each other.

In one instance, police had to be called.

Clive Phillips
Rotorua

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