Letters: The Living Wage is here to stay

The council does not need a report on paying the Living Wage. It just needs to do it.

THE latest development is that the core public service will implement the Living Wage from September 1, 2018.

This is great news for around 2000 public servants and their families, particularly the children who rely on the income of these workers.

The Living Wage is not going to sink out of sight — it is bobbing up in other places, making public bodies that have not taken the step look somewhat less than "leading edge".

A report was suggested when Whanganui District Council voted in May on the Living Wage. This would have been useful in keeping the issue before councillors, but really there is no need for a report.

The council knew the number of direct employees paid less than the then Living Wage back in April was 60, and the cost to bring those workers up to the Living Wage would be $143,687.80.

That was before the Living Wage went up from $20.20 per hour to $20.55 from July 1.
The minimal increase was because of the Government Families Package — very welcome, and clear support from central Government, recognising that many employers would need to adjust their budget to cover the distance between the minimum wage and the Living Wage.

As Minister of State Services Chris Hipkins said, all New Zealanders need a decent standard of living. The Living Wage is for workers who go out to earn their living.
Council does not need a report; it just needs to do it.

MARION SANSON
Otamatea

Cartoons

Recently I have enjoyed several of the cartoons and noticed that they were drawn by a different cartoonist.

They were subtle, pointed and actually made me smile.

A pity you have had to go back to the other one.

EDWINA DOVE
Whanganui

Politics and shows

Actress and comedienne Roseanne Barr joked on Twitter about former Obama Administration staff member Valerie Jarrett; it wasn't particularly funny. Ms Barr, who apparently thought Ms Jarrett was Persian, connected Ms Jarrett's politics with her looks. She tweeted something about the Muslim Brotherhood (the politics) and Planet of the Apes (looks) had a baby and that was Ms Jarrett.

What Ms Barr was referring to with the Planet of the Apes comment was the resemblance Ms Jarrett has in bone structure and hairstyle to a character played by actress Helena Bonham Carter in the 2001 film. Ms Jarrett is part African American, , and so the scream went up that Roseanne Barr was comparing a black woman to an ape. "Racism!"

Ms Barr deleted the tweet and apologised for her bad attempt at a joke. Ms Barr's new, successful show was immediately cancelled by ABC, all those working on it suddenly unemployed, and it was removed from consideration for any awards. Reruns of the original show from 20 years ago were also removed.

Oh, and Ms Barr has publicly supported President Donald Trump.

A day or so later, comedienne Samantha Bee, host of Full Frontal, attacked Ivanka Trump, daughter of and adviser to the President, for posting a photo of herself with her infant son. Ms Bee's statements were disgusting and included a term many find utterly disgusting and detestable.

Ms Bee later apologised and said she had "crossed a line", although the apology seemed aimed at her viewers rather than Ms Trump. Not only did Ms Bee keep her show and not suffer any disciplinary action, she received an award for her show a few days later.

Samantha Bee's apology doesn't quite ring true, though. Unlike Ms Barr's foolish "spur of the moment" tweet, Ms Bee's comments were scripted, the show pre-recorded. There was plenty of opportunity to change or stop those comments before they went to air. Many in the media defended Samantha Bee or tried to play down what she had said.

But, of course, anyone who suggests there is a double standard at play in the US media must be a conspiracy theorist.

K A BENFELL
Gonville

Send your letters to: The Editor, Wanganui Chronicle, 100 Guyton St, PO Box 433, Wanganui 4500; or email editor@wanganuichronicle.co.nz