Whanganui letters: The benefits of a free society and good service

The Jones brothers were praised for their level of service by one letter writer. Photo / File

Opinion

It is always good to know that our rights are protected by our government and our laws. We, as a society, should not want people marginalised or attacked because of race, age, personal choices, etc.

When we look at the question of medical treatments, a personal choice, the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 informs us at number 11, "Everyone has the right to refuse to undergo any medical treatment."

Clearly the Government will defend our right to refuse any medical treatment, such as a vaccine, and try to make sure that anyone who chooses to not receive a medical treatment will not be marginalised or attacked for that choice.

This is one of the benefits of living in a free society rather than a totalitarian one, a benefit that many New Zealanders fought and even died for to defend. We should be thankful that they did, and very protective of those rights and benefits for ourselves and our children, and the future of our society.

K A Benfell
Gonville

Good and bad in Wilson story

I reply to the letter in the Chronicle on Wednesday October 20, penned by Mr Pat Magill, self-proclaimed apologist for convicted serial sex offender Stewart Murray Wilson.

There can be good and bad in every situation, I agree.

In the case of Wilson's long history, the bad is that it has cost New Zealand taxpayers a fortune to provide security guards to accompany him to wherever he wished to go, because of the still high risk of his re-offending.

The good is that his victims can now rest assured that they are free from having to live in fear of the possibility of him being free to re-offend. Also, the wider community will no longer be required to suffer the "in your face" flaunting of his presence at many of their locations of recreational pursuit, as we have done in the past.

Lynne Douglas
Whanganui

Kudos to good service

I am sure many would agree that Covid has made for very trying times and, as a consequence, a few enterprises and their staff have suffered. However, I believe Whanganui is blessed with the most helpful and considerate people staffing our supermarkets, cafes and other enterprises.

For me, of particular note are the Jones brothers at David Jones Motors, who undertook repairs and assisted me with mobility issues - I am in my 80s and disabled - and Amanda Gibbons and her colleagues at BNZ bank, who guided me through some very complex issues.

Thank you all for making Whanganui the wonderful place it is.

Bob Archer
Springvale

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