Bad moves: Letters, 4 October

The Bay of Plenty Times welcomes letters and comments from readers. Here you can read the letters we have published in your newspaper today.

Where's the money tree grove, council?

I can only assume that councillors have discovered the money grove of trees, as what would be the other reason to spend in excess of $1million on upgrading the 11th Ave intersection?

Like many others, I have used this intersection for many years and in reality it is only bad driving causing the occasional problem that seems to happen in this location. What then has encouraged the councillors and council to spend a massive $1 million-plus on curing a perceived problem and, in particular, in the financial environment that we are currently experiencing?

The upgrade was publicly advertised (radio) as commencing on September 19 and actually nothing happened during that week, and my bet would be that this upgrade will not be completed before the Christmas rush and chaos could well prevail.

If this council was actually serious in keeping down costs, the 11th Ave upgrade should have been delayed until financial times were better.

Failing to account

I refute claims made by Peter Dey (Letters, September 28). Has this man done research or considered the ongoing global financial crisis reigning across the world in recent years?

He fails to account for the previous Government being in power at a time of economic growth, yet they did not capitalise on opportunities, and no Government is responsible for markets which drive employment either up or down. The financial crisis is the reason our economic growth has stalled, not gone backwards, and if Mr Dey did his maths correctly: $2.4 billion of tax cuts has no bearing on $15 billion borrowed over three years. By decreasing tax rates on higher incomes, this promotes and encourages investment in new or expanded ventures, thereby creating job opportunities.

NZ's unemployment rate of 6.5 per cent is far better than England (7.6 per cent), the US (9.1 per cent), Scandinavian countries (average 7.6 per cent). NZ has the 12th lowest unemployment rate of the 34 OECD countries, well below the average (9.2 per cent).

According to Department of Labour statistics, employment has grown by 2 per cent so far this year and has been tracking upwards consistently over the past two years. In fact, the 68-69 per cent of working age population currently employed is the same rate as five years ago.

CHRISTINE FROST, Tauranga

Bad move

Re: Coronation Street screenings.

I cannot believe such a popular programme can be moved to be replaced by MasterChef Australia when cookery programmes already flood the broadcasts. Just as daylight saving kicks in and viewers are either outside or preparing meals. We hear the elderly are living longer and outnumber the younger generation. Leave our favourite programme alone.

PHIL STEVENS, Tauranga

Elderly viewers

Why don't TVNZ come clean and really say why they really want to push Coronation Street sideways to a non-prime viewing time?

It is recognised that this programme is generally viewed by the older generation. Any prime time programme which calls for the highest advertising fees is not going to be popular with the advertisers when watched by non-spending elderly people.

GEOFF WARWICK, Bethlehem

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