J HANNAY
Whanganui
Mobility parks
Everyone knows what a wheelchair symbol means.
It makes me wonder why, after many years, so many able-bodied people think it is okay to park in a mobility car park without the card.
Every time this happens, the whole reason for them is undermined.
I see this quite frequently at the one at the Gonville shops in Abbot St, and a company vehicle misuses that quite often, no permit displayed.
This is a form of abuse, and it is all too common.
And if anyone misusing them is challenged, they get verbally abusive and can sometimes threaten violence.
Most people respect them, but I have noticed many who will condone this behaviour, even see it as comedy.
And the authorities don't seem to care either.
This is just further proof that society has a long way to go in regard to the attitudes towards the disabled.
If people find this topic boring, ask this: If it has been mentioned numerous times over the years, why is it still happening?
Why is this crime still so easily accepted?
JULIAN EMMETT
Gonville
Election priorities
Hospitals, not highways. What is wrong with the road from Sanson to Levin? Surely not an infrastructure priority?
The Manawatu Gorge is, however.
A Massey University survey of 40,000 people in May discovered that the election priority for most New Zealanders, of all ages, was health.
For the young it was "mental" health, and the elderly "medical" health and maybe a hip or heart replacement.
No, not housing, poverty, taxes or water but the "elephant in the room".
I despair at the political intellect!
And don't build a hospital if you don't fund it adequately. It's not a photo op.
Oh, that's right -- we have to repay the interest on our money too.
Five minutes more of life is better than a shorter journey?
KEN CRAFAR
Wanganui
Roading worries
We would like to thank council and roading crews for having done a great job on our particular road [Watershed Rd] over the years, sometimes under difficult circumstances. It is the future we are concerned about.
We understand the financial constraint of council. We feel central government needs to contribute more to rural roading, particularly where there are logs to come out, as the wider NZ economy benefits from the export dollars.
The forest industry is basically equal footing it in export revenue with meat and wool, on a much reduced land area, 1.6 million hectares as opposed to 5 million plus hectares of grazing land.
Whanganui's local economy is also benefiting from logging activity. Many businesses are noticing increased income. Even the roading crews are good employment for many locals.
So we are asking council to talk with other local bodies who are under pressure from logging activity and make a concerted push for more road funding from central government.
Remember, most of the money can't always go to Auckland. NZ needs export revenue from the regions, and without roads the produce can't come out.
H and M BRINK
Whanganui
Tax cuts
I suppose that now that the National Party is in dismayed disarray, Steven Joyce will be considering reaching into the barrel for the biggest, fattiest, juiciest lump of pork that he has left -- tax cuts. Tax cuts that always favour the least needy over the most needy.
In effect he will be saying, "We'll pay you for your vote."
And all this sudden surplus money will have come from years of squeezing hospitals until they bleed, depriving schools of necessary resources, downsizing DOC, the environment's main protector, having not enough policemen to respond to many burglary calls and other "prudent management tools".
I hope I'm wrong and the temptation of offering tax cuts will be resisted by the Government. There are many things New Zealanders need more.
I D FERGUSON
Whanganui
