Your views: Peters a sympton of MMP's problems

Winston Peters

Your editorial headlined "Peters has a bit too much latitude" is, in effect, a criticism of our MMP system of voting.

MMP is a form of proportional representation which NZ voted for in a 1993 referendum and first applied in the 1996 election. It is very similar to the systems in Germany, Bolivia and Lesotho.

After World War II, the victorious Allies devised the German system to prevent any one party gaining overwhelming power. A major party will almost certainly require the support of one or more minor parties in order to form a government.

I agree it gives the minor parties too much power, but that is what New Zealand wanted in 1993 and presumably still wants. If his party gets into Parliament, Peters can swing either way, and we end up with with a weakened government instead of a strong one.

Furthermore, under the NZ system a candidate can stand both on his party list and for his electorate, thus having his cake and eating it. If he succeeds in winning both a list seat and the electorate vote, his unneeded list seat will go to a candidate on his party's list.
MMP gives us a government which includes unelected, unknown members.

Is this truly democratic?

RICHARD PEIRCE, Marton

Abortion's cost

Carol Webb apparently doesn't care about increasing crime and family breakdown - data available from Statistics NZ - over the past 40-plus years.

Nor is she concerned that since abortion became widely available, underage children can now access abortion without parental knowledge. She ignores the fact many women who feel they have no other choice but abortion, are under-informed of the aftermath of physical, emotional and mental trauma it can bring.

As with assisted suicide, abortion seems like a quick, simple solution to a "problem", but brings with it its own much larger permanent problems.

http://www.abortionfacts.com/reardon/the-after-effects-of-abortion

Women who have abortions are more likely to experience ectopic pregnancies, infertility, hysterectomies, stillbirths, miscarriages, and premature births. (Strahan, T. Detrimental Effects of Abortion: An Annotated Bibliography with Commentary (Springfield, IL: Acorn Books, 2002) 168-206).

Women who have had abortions are also at an increased risk of breast cancer. These articles from Current Oncology demonstrate the slippery slope:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3070710/; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3267569/

Incremental attitudinal change to accepting ending a life lowers the value placed on life in general and encourages doctors and relatives to seek the "quick fix".

Is Carol is ready to share the origin of her beliefs? Why is she asking me to declare mine when she apparently already knows I'm a Christian? It is very easy to label those you disagree with, but it detracts from real argument.

MANDY DONNE-LEE, Aramoho

Cupboard bare

When I read the note under the last of Hubbard's cartoon, I was under the impression that he was retiring, but I learn that he is still drawing for other newspapers - so why not the Wanganui Chronicle?

I am not impressed by the latest cartoon man - a drawing of a pine tree, obviously referring to the death of Colin Meads. This was untimely, in that he only died the day before - he could have at least drawn a gravestone (in due respect).

This cartoon made me sad. To me a cartoonist should create humour like Hubbard did with Winston Peters - his drawing of Mike Hosking with Winston was a real rip and made the first morning cup of tea enjoyable.

So how about getting this guy back? Without him I feel that the Chronicle is a bit like the Old Mother's cupboard.

IVAN HORN, Whanganui East

Editor's note: The decision to replace Hubbard was not based on the quality of his work which is very good. It was a budget decision with the savings used in other areas of the Chronicle's news service.

Coming clean

Why were some farmers complaining about Labour's water tax (which would be used to help clean up our waterways) when they have been perfectly happy to pay for water from largely publicly-funded water storage schemes e.g. the Ruataniwha water storage scheme.
Pollution is a huge problem in New Zealand. Let's all own the problem and clean it up.

E J MISCHEFSKI, Hastings