Thank you to mayor Tenby Powell for his leadership at Baycourt Thursday evening (News, February 21). He spoke well, with authority.
Our area police commander Inspector Clifford Paxton spoke about what is going on with the gang rivalry that is spilling over into our communities, and his advice for people to stay vigilant, to report anything suspicious, and to let the police do their job.
The acting chief executive of the district health board highlighted the dreadful predicament of staff who are trying to do their job healing patients but having to cope regularly with attacks by people with chemically rearranged brains. It was an informative meeting with plenty of questions from a concerned audience. Thanks was delivered by mayor Webber from the Western Bay district.
One came away thinking that Simon Bridges, as leader of the opposition, will be challenged as to what his party will do if elected on September 19.
There was also concern expressed about the children and mothers who are the victims too often of the violent crime associated with drugs, methamphetamine, cannabis, alcohol and the negative impact on our society, and the strong desire for us all to work together to solve solutions.
Margaret Murray-Benge
Bethlehem
Time to be proactive
Am I missing something here?
If the law is broken our taxes pay for police and the courts to keep law and order. Why therefore do our two councils (funded by ratepayers) and the district health board need to get involved in a public meeting on the subject?
It seems to me just a simple matter of devoting more resources to police to enable them to devote much more concentrated attention to the problem – ie be proactive rather than reactive.
Customs at the port to detect drugs importation appear to need more resources too.
(Abridged)
Leigh Neilson
Tauriko