Your views: Readers' letters

Freedom camping

I support Hamish McDouall in his apparently pragmatic approach to freedom campers in Whanganui ("I freedom camp in back of my car, says mayor" Chronicle, April 15). Yes, let's welcome them to our city, and provide 24-hour toilet facilities for them.

The city needs the money they spend. And if we get them to say nice things about Whanganui, all their friends will come. And at that stage, this city will have begun a tourism industry on a shoestring.

Gosh, it could even go so far as to force us to spend thousands on a second extra toilet block for them, so we can cater for all those who spend millions at our local businesses.

Councillor Helen Craig is reported in the same article as saying this discussion should be done in more depth. I agree. She is a very astute person, based on what little I know of her council activities.

I admire this councillor's work ethic and well-planned attention to detail when she is on council business. Her views on freedom campers, expressed in a public forum such as a council meeting, will undoubtedly be of positive value to the overall discussion.

I should add, lest councillors unnamed feel "left out", that I believe Whanganui has, overall, scored a good and varied team of councillors. The very few would-be radicals appear to be "kept in line" by a majority of more reasoned heads.

More importantly, in my opinion, this council also appears to be working well with a receptive CEO who clearly has positive lines of communication open between himself and them -- all to Whanganui's good.

STAN HOOD
Aramoho

White poppies

May I express my horror and disgust at the selling of white poppies on our streets when keen but ageing members of the RSA were selling their red poppies.

The peace group say they are not disrespectful, but just selling their own poppies on the very same day belies any good intentions on their part.

I do not disagree with their reasons for selling their washout poppies, but they should have picked another day.

I had two uncles whom I never saw because they died overseas in World War II. I saw at first hand the impact having no father had on my cousins. The local RSA supported both families as the children grew to adulthood.

Their support of the ageing returned soldiers has been commendable too.

I would like to suggest to the peace-loving white poppy group that they seriously consider another day on which to sell their own poppies and be prepared to gather the support and sponsorship for advertising the event.

I was thrilled personally to see how many firms and businesses supported the appeal day advertising. I'd be very interested to see how much revenue they would attract for their white poppy cause.

To end, if you are in town on Tuesday, April 25 between 2 and 3pm, you could voice your own disgust at the peace rally at Majestic Square, as their disrespect is still going on.

GINNY EMMETT
Whanganui

Hairstyles

Same hairstyles, Sonny Bill Williams and Kim Jong Un. So who travels where, or maybe they meet each other to make sure they match up?

GARY STEWART
Foxton Beach