Letters: Get tough on race-fixing

I HAVE a racehorse, and to hear of this alleged race-fixing doping going on in Canterbury, where once I had two pacers in work with Mark Purdon, New Zealand's leading trainer, reminds me of the early 2003-2005 with the Blue Magic doping.

I hear that 10 people have been charged.

Whoever they are, if guilty I only hope they don't get a slap on the wrist but get what they deserve: loss of licence and jail time.

GARY STEWART
Foxton Beach

Lose this lemon

Steve Baron's article (Chronicle, August 28) made a good case for the demolition of the Thain building. It is a lemon and has no ability to make a return on investment.

If the 32 people — Whanganui people, I hope — can't put their money where their mouth is then they have no right to demand the ratepayers do.

Let it be demolished if someone can make a case for demolition and rebuild, or it will just turn into another eyesore till it falls down.

We can't let the dreamers spend our money — they have already done enough damage with our unnecessary poo pond.

Every building becomes an old building in 100 years, and if society wants to call it a heritage building, so be it. It will at least have lifts, plumbing, internet wiring, central heating and air conditioning.

G R SCOWN
Whanganui

Target the sinners

It is interesting how, when members of an institution behave in ways that clearly go against everything the institution stands for, it is the institution that gets attacked for it by those who don't like the institution.

The horrifying scandals of abuse, sexual predation, and cover-ups by priests and bishops of the Catholic Church are clear examples of people acting in opposition to everything the Catholic Church teaches and has fought for over the past 2000 years.

These people need to be held to account and their influence curtailed. So, let's deal with the sinners instead of attacking the institution that tells them not to sin.

K A BENFELL
Gonville

Trump truths

A letter was published recently regarding President Donald Trump and the funeral of John McCain which is misleading.

I don't know why such rubbish even gets printed, unless there is a hidden agenda by the media against President Trump and the good work he is doing for his country.

The disrespect was actually from the past president and company, who used a funeral as a platform to attempt to bring down the American president.

This, I thought, was very distasteful.

The letter commented that President Trump had said McCain wasn't a war hero. That was said, but if people looked a bit further they would see that it wasn't out of hate.

The dislike between these two men first started with John McCain's insults against President Trump after he got elected.

DAVID ROBINSON
Wellington

Treaty fudge

David James (Chronicle, September 7) twists the Treaty with lengthy talk about "New Zealanders". Not once does the Treaty mention them.

Article second refers to "tangata katoa o Nu Tirani" whose direct translation, as in Hobson's final draft of February 4, is "all the people of New Zealand" and that means exactly what it says.

By contrast, Article third refers to "tangata maori katoa o Nu Tirani", specifically referring only to those inhabitants of Polynesian descent to whom all the rights of the people of England were granted.

Existing British subjects were not included, as they had such rights already, while people of other nationalities were excluded.

I say James fudged the Treaty's meaning by including "[ie Maori]" and he does so now with his "New Zealanders".
(Edited)

BRUCE MOON
Nelson

Bring back answer

Recently I've noticed frequent usage of the phrase "I've got your back" or "You've got my back" in the media or spoken in general conversation.

Is this a new addition to everyday English and from where did it originate — from American TV soaps or British TV dramas?

Would some reader please enlighten me?

DOUG PRICE
Castlecliff

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