Work worthwhile
I wish you had talked to me, as part-owner of the Red Lion, before the story about the impact of the road repairs on Anzac Parade businesses went to print - "Repairs impact businesses" (July 19).
I actually think the riverbank reconstruction is great - a very positive move to improve the riverbank slump, adding new walkway and cycleway.
It has slowed traffic down, but everyone's in too much of a hurry, anyway. And I've noticed how respectful everyone has been with merging traffic etc - so nice to see.
Our diners have entertainment watching it all take shape. Loaders are doing their best and it will all be worth it at the end of the day.
DINKY BELTON, Red Lion, Whanganui
Cake disputes
In your article about a New Zealand baker who declined to be involved in the gay wedding of an Australian couple by making a wedding cake for them, you referred to a case in the United States.
The article mentioned how the case went to the US Supreme Court and the court found in favour of the baker, Jack Phillips.
Then the article made the odd comment that the court "did not go as far as creating an exemption for businesses to refuse service to gay customers" which gives the impression Mr Phillips refused to serve the gay customers.
He did not refuse to serve the gay couple, he was clear that they could buy any cake in his shop.
What Mr Phillips refused to do was to take it to the next step and be personally involved in a gay wedding by designing and creating a cake for it. Mr Phillips does and should have that right.
The gay couple took legal action to attempt to destroy Mr Phillips' business which is how the case ended up at the US Supreme Court.
The court decision focused on how Mr Phillips had been unjustly treated by authorities.
K A BENFELL, Gonville
Farming concerns
I believe the "powers that be" should look whether M. bovis was deliberately introduced to wreck factory farming, dairying.
New Zealand has a lot of gripers since the Springbok tour.
BOB HARRIS, Whanganui
Speaking freely
John Archer (Chronicle, July 17) shows his rage by defending free speech for Southern and Molyneux yet using tough language to call President Trump a fascist.
This shows an imbalance somewhere.
If President Trump is a fascist who is making a big effort to save unborn children (defunding abortion clinics like Planned Parenthood) - quite unlike Hitler - then what would Mr Archer call Jacinda Ardern heading a Labour Party that has supported the killing of the unborn for decades?
The removal of honorifics is detrimental to free speech by not recognising an elected office. For example, addressing my letter to Dawson rather than the Editor of the Chronicle wipes away any vestige of courtesy.
It seems we should revisit the rules of discussion and leave the dissenters from those standards to themselves.
Cheers for good language, good humour and facts.
F R HALPIN, Gonville
