As a trout fisherman of over 65 years on most of the rivers in the lower North Island, my problem - with age creeping up - is to find water I can get to easily.
Despite having built up a network around many farms I can fish on through the generosity of landowners, I cannot find access any more except from public bridges. The reason being that access is fenced off everywhere I go on the banks of the Rangitikei, Manawatu, Whanganui, Manganui o te Ao, Whakapapa - to name a few - and the vegetation within becomes too difficult to penetrate.
What is never written about is the huge build-up of weed infestation along the fenced banks and riverbeds. Willows, rogue grasses, gorse, lupine, buddleia, old man's beard to name the worst.
Just before Christmas I was offered a helicopter ride into the headwaters of the Rangitikei River and at close range was amazed to see so much old man's beard smothering the native canopy. There were also huge bare areas from slipping - nothing to do with farming, but likely due to dead trees killed by possum and deer damage. God help our forests should 1080 go by the board prior to finding a viable alternative.
I would like Nicola Patrick to turn more attention to poisonous vehicle emissions, waste dumping and dirty run-off from our towns and cities into rivers and streams.
While some of the best trout fishing can be had on the Manawatu between Ashhurst and Dannevirke (supposedly one of the most polluted stretches of river in the world), below Palmerston North is a revolting place to fish.
Back in 1960 while camping in Scotland, several of us took shelter and slept one dreadful night alongside 100 cattle beasts in an enclosed barn - and I'm still here. One vehicle with an engine running in that same building, all of us - man and beast - would have been dead in half an hour. Do I have a point?
There always will be those who do not comply with the law and that includes a small percentage of farmers. But from my experience traversing farms over decades, I see clear evidence that generally farmers are caring and have pride in looking after their land and water responsibilities.
PHILSON SHERRIFF
Marton
(Retired, keen fisherman, sports follower, gardener, outdoor photographer)
System a joke
Let's see if I am reading the paper correctly ...
A man is seen speeding then loses control of his rental car, takes out a $40,000 control box and ends up stuck in his car on the tracks with a train coming.
People risk their lives getting him out just before the train hits his rental car.
Police say he blew 888mcg when the limit is 250mcg and he asks for a blood sample (which is his right), but no one takes his passport as he was only charged with careless driving.
He leaves the country and police are not chasing him but if he comes back he will be grabbed.
So now the taxpayer has paid for police time, court time, accident and emergency time, a $40,000 power box and the insurance company is stuck with fixing the car.
They know where he is but it is not worth putting him on a plane. It makes a joke of the system and we taxpayers keep footing the bill.
P ANDREWS
Whanganui
Abortion lobby
In the Chronicle's footnote to K A Benfell's letter, it was stated that the organisation Planned Parenthood had been opposed to abortion and kept "that stance for many years after it was legalised".
Since Planned Parenthood was one of the organisations lobbying for abortion to be legalised in the first place and then became an abortion provider once it became legal, how on earth can you make such a statement?
Some of those involved in lobbying for abortion to be legalised have since admitted that one of their tools was lying and the spreading false information. False information like, but even worse than, your statement about Planned Parenthood. In your comments you also stated that Margaret Sanger, who founded Planned Parenthood, was "criticised for her support for eugenics".
Support is an interesting choice of word, it makes it appear that Margaret Sanger wasn't a proponent of eugenics, only a supporter. She was, in fact, an unapologetic eugenics proponent.
For example, in 1921 she called what she labelled an "unbalance" between the birth rates of the "unfit" and the "fit" as the "greatest present menace to civilisation", and said eugenics was "the most adequate and thorough avenue to the solution of racial, political and social problems".
Of course, Hitler was also criticised for his "support" of eugenics.
Today Hitler is the most reviled person of the 20th century while, through some historical spin-doctoring, Margaret Sanger is revered and has awards given in her name.
F R HALPIN
Gonville
Bushy Park
Recently my eldest son and I were part of a group on the Department of Conservation holiday programme and visited Bushy Park.
What a magical evening in a stunning setting in our own backyard. Sincere thanks to co-ordinator Esther, bus driver Kevin, Peter our guide and Scotty and DOC staff who made our experience so enjoyable.
We will certainly return.
PASTOR BARRIE
Whanganui
