The Bay of Plenty Times welcomes letters and comments from readers. Below you can read the letters we have published in your newspaper today.
TODAY'S LETTERS:
Bringing to fore hidden abuse of the disabled
Re: Dame Susan Devoy: Sense of pride more important (BOP Times, May 28).
Dame Susan has said "In New Zealand a woman is
murdered every five weeks by her partner and a child is abused virtually every day, but we don't start Facebook pages to highlight this scab on our society's landscape."
Actually we do. The Disability Clothesline is a national project to draw attention to the largely invisible violence and abuse faced by disabled people every day.
We invite disabled people to tell their stories on T-shirts and we display them on the line.
We are the only project of this kind in New Zealand. We have a Facebook page and our website is www.disabilityclothesline.org.nz.
Robyn Hunt, Wellington
Teacher inspires
Re: Top honours for blind teacher (BOP Times, June 6).
Mrs [Ngaire] Guy, what an inspiration you are to the profession of music teaching. I too taught piano for 45 years and am proud to read about your incredible accomplishments. You do us all proud ... worldwide.
Marylin Davies, Terrace, BC Canada
Roundabout fear
Re: Pyes Pa bypass "asset" to assist growth (BOP Times, June 6).
There is no doubt that the Pyes Pa bypass will be an asset to the city. It's a pity the people that designed it didn't take the design more seriously, or perhaps they just don't have the mental aptitude to understand traffic flows, even though they are overpaid by the taxpayer.
How long will it be until we see a B train loaded with kiwifruit tip over at the roundabout by the cemetery or a school bus putting kids' lives at risk trying to negotiate a design disaster?
Not only is the roundabout too small and too narrow for a main road it is seriously off camber and just begs a disaster.
Taxpayers at the very least deserve to get common-sense competency from overpaid engineers. Not a bureaucratic disaster waiting to happen.
Chudleigh Haggett, Tauranga
Punish owners
The great arguments about biting dogs continues to no end.
Some time ago Time magazine reported on the great number of attacks in the US and did a survey to find that the majority offenders were our dear labradors.
I have owned many dogs and got bitten several times by a spaniel and a terrier - mostly my fault.
More recently with my wire haired terrier on our daily walk, passed through a small playground and kids would immediately run over and I had to drag my boy away from them with his lead as, being small, they were dog's size and their faces were level with the dog's. They would want to hug the dog and I would explain the possible dangers of doing that.
Parents should teach their children to be friendly but not too so, for we know what mischief kids can get up too like pulling "things" and being rough with always the possibility of a reaction.
The difference of course is a dog that is naturally vicious and the only solution to that is a trained owner who keeps his dog always under control. Then it is not the dog that should be killed, but the owner who should be punished.
Geoff Harmer, Tauranga
$3m not enough
I salute Rick Curach for suggesting the new council chief executive slash $3 million dollars from rates. Although I say he doesn't go far enough! $3 million this year, and $3 million for each consecutive year until everything but the essential services are left, leaving council the opportunity to concentrate on providing quality essential services.
This will save them from robbing individuals at gunpoint (under threat of force) to pay for things they do not voluntarily wish to pay for. Leaving YOU with the money that you earn, to spend on things that you value - ie art galleries, libraries, concerts and sports.
Those vociferous in opposition to such a move are probably those whose livelihood is most expendable.
If ratepayers were allowed to spend their own money on things they wanted, the majority (ie those you all think are the only ones who have rights) would get what they want anyway because they would have the money to pay for it, and the minority (those whose rights you would destroy in a vote) would still have their own money in their pockets to spend on things they value. The system you all seem to blindly adhere to (because you are not taught there is an alternative) is corrupt and immoral.
Graham Clark, Lower Kaimai
Text Views
* Forward thinking governments have long since legitimised the use of cannabis for medical and recreational purposes. New Zealand's law society is correct. The time has come for courageous NZ politicians to change this evil draconian law.
* Nice 2c councillors at hot pool. I wonder have they ever been b4 or was this a publicity campaign?
* I have huge respect for bob clarkson. Without him we would never have got rid of peters. However, jump for Act must be "old life crisis".
* Pool temps at greerton go down 2 tho ths always dnied. Spend da money bringing al pools up 2 da world clas facilities as per ur mision statement
* Gud 4 Dean Wickliffe 4 gettin on wit his life he got the support he needs frm the community / whanau of make2, ur home kia kaha (RIHARI of Tauranga)
* Amazing how one drink driver nearly killed thousands of people at Blake park. Talk about over-emotive reporting. Don't let the facts get in the way of a good story aye.
* Was fishng alng maketu bch oneday an a local chap cm alng an showd me a bttr spot an hd a chat turnd out to be D W i thort he was a friendy bloke!
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Text: 021 439 968
