Your views: Readers' letters

AIR CHATHAMS: A year of excellent service.PHOTO/FILE

Great service

We, too, would like to congratulate Air Chathams on one year of excellent service to the people of Wanganui.

It was indeed a pleasure to arrive back in the country a fortnight ago to stormy weather and wander past all the "other airline" passengers -- queuing up in the Auckland domestic terminal to rebook their flights on account of all the cancelled and/or disrupted services of that airline -- and out on to the tarmac to board our Air Chathams flight, which left and arrived here on schedule.

Our flight up to Auckland two months earlier was on the larger Convair plane, and what a treat that was too, with legroom to kick a football around in and the obligatory Tim Tam.

Let's all keep up our support for the wonderful service provided by Air Chathams -- they have earned it.

NEVILLE and CHRIS HOPKINS
Whanganui

Euthanasia

On page 10 of today's Whanganui Chronicle (August 1), you use the word euthanasia in the heading of your article and in reference to my call for a referendum on David Seymour's End of Life Choice Bill.

Perhaps it was an unintentional slip of the pen by you, our dear and distinguished editor, but I would fervently point out that there is in fact no call to euthanise anyone.

While it may seem pedantic to some, the terminology is actually voluntary euthanasia or assisted suicide. This is an important distinction, as you would surely not want to give the public the perception that society is about to start euthanising those who do not wish to be euthanised, especially if they do not have a terminal illness and are not likely to die within the next six months.

I would hate to think the local media has become prone to sensationalism. Especially when it is the face of our local community and our window to the rest of New Zealand and the world.

While selling newspapers may be a priority to your head honchos and shareholders, it should also be your priority to put our wonderful community in the best possible light, rather than acting in a parasitic fashion.

STEVE BARON
Whanganui

Fortified flats

What a shame that we have to build a new subdivision (Springvale) with gang-type fences of six-foot, no outlook whatsoever and not a very good impression to visitors.

"Do you have a lot of drive-by shootings here?"

These high enclosures must stop a lot of sun reaching many areas of the house and that is what these are built for, so defeating the purpose.

MARGARET HADDON
Castlecliff

Global warming

Storms. Having just read the paper, my opinion is all the money in the world will not remedy the cost of these storms, floods etc that are happening in little New Zealand and overseas and around the world. No government money can even help repair the damage done around New Zealand, for one reason: too many problems.

This is called global warming. So people who are trying to blame government, stop. Blame global warming. No one can stop what's happening, we just have to accept what's happening.

A THOMSON
Marton

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