I raised this with council and press two weeks ago due to rumours. I even raised it on a well-known Facebook community page and over 98 per cent were not happy. Do I believe that committee got this very wrong? Yes, I do.
I have a duty manager's licence re service of alcohol, I know my responsibilities, and — socially — I have the rare drink. I say to the entire "team" of councillors, shame on you if you do not raise this at the table and record your views one by one on this decision. Yes, you can do that on record after the fact.
If councillor Josh can get on pages 1 and 3 on budgie bans and panicked pensioners, is not the topic of alcohol equally worthy of just one councillor raising some concern but, more appropriately, in the council chamber? Just one?
It's a load of Bull, and all that goes with this at both ends of a very large bull will be added to a major gateway point of our town.
It stinks, Whanganui.
ROSS FALLEN
Castlecliff
Bird ban seems petty
Liz Wylie's story in the April 27 Chronicle about Henry the budgie, and the Whanganui council certainly highlights their pet(ty) policy.
It seems incredible that someone would complain about a budgie — can't imagine it being any noisier than the average wild bird flying around outside or sitting on a fence or wire. We've all heard tui and mynas squawking, and that's part of everyday life.
Okay, maybe if a council tenant had a massive parrot, that might not be acceptable, but a small bird in a cage? And then to threaten them with eviction if they do not comply — how petty.
What if I were a slightly eccentric tenant and decided to put a frozen chook (which I named Fred) in a cage and called it my pet, would I be treated in the same way?
Perhaps not — probably end up in the funny farm, which would be more appropriate if the chook was alive.
I firmly believe all tenants should be able to keep a small to medium size bird without council threatening to make them homeless.
DOUG PRICE
Castlecliff
Pets are therapeutic
The therapeutic value of pets for elderly, disabled, ill or lonely people is widely recognised. But not, it seems, by the Whanganui District Council.
I can understand a pet policy prohibiting cats and especially dogs. Dogs bark, crap everywhere, dig holes and scratch at things. Their loyalty to their owners can sometimes become aggressive. Cats scratch things and may dig holes in people's gardens but, on the whole, are less offensive than dogs.
Small cage birds are no trouble at all. They don't make much noise. In the suburban environment of most council flats a very vocal budgie would hardly rise above the ambient daytime noise level. And they sleep at night. Feed and water them, clean the cage regularly and you have a very inoffensive pet. I wonder — are goldfish banned too?
The council's policy is petty, callous and obviously not attuned to the wellbeing of its tenants. Something for Whanganui District electors to ponder.
T BURNS
Ashhurst
Send your letters to: The Editor, Whanganui Chronicle, 100 Guyton St, PO Box 433, Whanganui 4500; or email editor@wanganuichronicle.co.nz
