Letters to the editor: Need to step up the fight against drug dealers

A reader says new figures on kids and drugs were grim reading. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

Tuesday's front page about child drug use (News, May 11) made grim reading.

Nationwide figures showed how desperate the problem is.

We can't blame the government, police or social services. No, the parents of the younger offenders need to step up and take responsibility for instilling moral standards on their children.

They need boundaries from birth. Even former drug kingpin Billy Macfarlane stated that cannabis use by children is a big problem.

Obviously, the numbers in the article are only the ones who have been caught, the real figures are probably double.

We clearly need to step up the fight against drug dealers/manufacturers. Much more than half of crime such as murder, violence, theft has to do with drugs.

Where will it end?

Politicians must stop trying to legalise marijuana for any reason other than medicine.

Increase jail terms and dispense with parole.

We could easily reserve our jails for violent crimes, murder and drug crimes.

All the rest could be dealt with by enforced home detention and purpose-built low-security jails using electronic devices to keep the criminals in place.

Dan Russell
Tauranga

Let's not honour Greer

There is no good reason we should honour Colonel Greer by retaining the name Greerton.

While we should know and remember our history, we should commemorate those who deserved to be remembered.

At least General Duncan Cameron had a conscience and latterly resigned rather than continue the blatant land grab of the colonial government.

Patricia Brooks
Tauranga

Psychiatric hospitals relieved families

Further to Jim Adams' letter of May 13, regarding the need for young carers.

In New Zealand, we used to have psychiatric hospitals. There were wards full of people who needed full-time care. They were well looked after, and their families could visit any time.

And families could get on with their own lives as well.

Our closest one was Tokanui Hospital. It closed in 1998.

Catherine Gray
Rotorua

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