It was pleasing to hear how many employers already embrace this concept and are rewarded with the positive benefits from participating. These include boosting morale and motivation, enhanced productivity, lower rates of absenteeism and supports staff retention.
Employers described how they introduced the living wage to their workplace, initially on an incremental basis increasing the hourly rate.
It was also disappointing to hear how often the lowest paid workers, cleaners, gardeners, hospitality workers, aged care employees etc are employed by large multinational companies.
These employers make huge profits and pay their chief executives and directors excessive salaries while often paying the minimum wage to the people who contribute to the profits.
I encourage the Whanganui community to embrace the Living Wage concept so we become a more caring and supportive society allowing workers to provide a reasonable standard of living for themselves and their families.
STEPHEN HAMPSON, Whanganui
Dog's ravages
In a recent article, Fred Frederikse had a laugh about his dog killing all the neighbourhood birds, chickens, parrots and, presumably, any other poor creature it encounters.
Unfortunately, this sort of attitude is held by many people in New Zealand.
It is the reason that our kiwi is now officially becoming extinct.
Cats and dogs are the two top predators in the world and are totally alien to our native habitat.
Anyone wishing to keep a dog should be treated the same as if they were getting a gun licence and sit stringent tests to prove that they are responsible and capable of keeping the animal safe.
I think many people are like Fred - they just drift into ownership because it is that easy.
We must fight for the wonderful native creatures we have like the kiwi and the kokako.
With cats and dogs and blokes like Fred, they don't have a chance.
ROB BUTCHER, Aramoho
Boat ramp
Helen Craig appears to be incorrectly informed about the ramp. It is the same boat ramp the sea fishing club built.
I know this, because I helped build it.
The improvements are a longer walkway and concrete and seal added to the top of the turning area.
None of this was necessary.
We waited one-and-a-half hours to launch two weeks ago, as there was no water at the slipway because of lack of dredging.
How can you charge us for that?
BRUCE EDWARDS, Whanganui
Spark frustration
Have I had a gutsful of Spark and their service - there is none.
No one gets back to you so I have to get back to them and explain everything all over again.
My phone was out of order for 36 hours.
They changed my number without telling me and I was offered a $5 discount - what an insult.
I am a very loyal person but I am ready to pull the plug on them and I bet I'm not on my own. Lift your game, Spark.
GARY STEWART, Foxton Beach
Dredging
Congratulations to Murray Shaw on talking some sense about how to minimise flooding by dredging - a lot of dredging for $23 million.
If only we could have made people realise that putting our sewage out to sea was not pollution, just food for the fish food called plankton.
The pollution bit is just a figment of their imagination. It would have saved us $4.5m.
G R SCOWN, Whanganui
Blind faith
I see (Letters, March 22) that Mandy Donne-Lee is still pushing the God thing.
She states Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, I know them and they follow me".
This is the main problem with these people; they are all sheep, following along, believing something that was written hundreds of years ago.
She then goes on to state there is only one god and the rest are counterfeits.
Of course her god is the real one.
Sheep believing in a fairytale book about a mythical man.
All religion is bad news and the main cause of a lot of the world's problems.
Why can't you just have faith in yourself? Prayer changes nothing - whatever will happen, will happen.
It's not called blind faith for nothing.
P ANDREWS, Wanganui East
