Far too major to be funny

To most, Wanganui's ill-fated attempt to impose a ban on the wearing of gang insignia was no laughing matter.

Of course, some chose to lampoon the city or the major players as the process played out. The sorry saga has all the makings of a farce - and there will be more fodder, as it's not over yet. The Wanganui District Council has yet to deliberate on submissions on a new bylaw to replace one declared invalid by Justice Denis Clifford.

Meanwhile, the Prohibition of Gang Insignia in Government Premises Bill, sponsored by Todd McClay, in August passed its first reading. It would be a national approach to the problem of gang intimidation and would ban insignia from schools, hospitals and other government and local government buildings.

It is a serious issue, yet has seen scorn and now ridicule poured on our city. People are afraid to come here, we are told.

Long-time tourism operator Rory Smith claims it has tainted the area's image and impacted on his business and many others. His submission on the new bylaw cited the harm publicity surrounding the gang-patch hysteria has done to the region.

Now, the champion of the gang-patch ban cause, Michael Laws, is to appear on national television in a comedy skit that pokes fun at the ban. Laws appears as a police officer enforcing the ban on Jono and Ben at Ten. The episode is due to screen on Friday.

Many will not share Mr Laws' views that the issue is good fodder for comedy. They have a point. Too much has been lost by too many people over this issue, which has divided the community and wrought untold damage on Wanganui's reputation. That is quite aside from the cost of pursuing it thus far, something inevitably borne by ratepayers.

The tragedy is it isn't over yet. Mr Laws' appearance on the show may prove funny, but the continued promotion in the public arena of what is a national issue as a localised, serious local problem is farcical and far from a laughing matter.