YOUR VIEW: Letters to the Editor

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:
Method of slaughter not kosher

Dorothy Finlay's letter (Your View, Dec 15) condoning the ancient Jewish practice of kosher or schechita killing and accusing the Government of acting like Nazis is shameful.
Kosher slaughter is equally as cruel as cutting off a puppy's ears without anaesthetic. This barbaric method of slaughter has been condemned by virtually all scientific bodies that have looked into it. That is why the Government banned it back in May while they were revisiting our codes of animal welfare practice.
The kosher method of slaughter has been loudly condemned by many scientific groups including the prestigious Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council to the British Government. May I quote from the British Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council "Such a massive injury (ie: during slaughter) would result in very significant pain and distress" Unfortunately New Zealand has buckled to the extremist sector of NZ's small Jewish community.
The halal slaughter of animals in NZ to meet the spiritual needs of Muslims living here, require animals to be rendered insensible to a certain degree before being slaughtered, which gives it a bit of a civilised edge over the ancient Jewish method. Readers of this paper should write to David Carter and demand that he uphold our Christian values and ban this ugly business. (Abridged)
REX SKIVINGTON Mount Maunganui

Backing for WoF stand
Re No WoF creates risk for others (Our View, Dec 18).
I supported the proposal by Cr Bill Grainger and the decision by Tauranga City Council as it encourages, better enables, more vehicles to be made legal.
The TCC policy has our parking wardens adding value to a "police function" at no cost to ratepayers and enhances safety.
The BOP Times opinion demonstrates a failure (and or desire) to grasp all the issues to ensure the best outcome, choosing to take the PC "big stick" route.
All non-compliant vehicles (no rego and or WOF sticker displayed) will continue to receive an infringement notice but more offenders will choose to make their vehicles safe and compliant within 14 days.
CR MURRAY GUY Pyes Pa

City's criminal largesse
I read that the Bay of Plenty Cricket Trust is to build new premises with their own funding - unlike so many other sports groups who rely on the ratepayer.
Bay Cricket has even modified its building plans to suit its finances. What's known as "cutting their suit according to their cloth".
Included in this venture, Tauranga City Council is spending $543,000 of ratepayer's money on infrastructure including public toilet facilities.
Half a million dollars for a public dunny?
Are the taps to be gold plated? Is it completely lined with imported Italian marble? Does it include 24-a-side stalls with a 40m long platinum-plated urinal?
For $543,000 you could build a fancy six-bedroomed, four-bathroom mansion or two very acceptable three-bedroomed houses - provided you didn't have to pay for the land - which council won't be.
Once again we get this criminal largesse with ratepayer funds or worse yet ratepayer's borrowings at interest.
Why doesn't our council and councillors cut their suit according to our cloth?
R JORDAN Matapihi

Reason for season
Doesn't anyone care anymore about the reason for the season?
Are we teaching our children about fun and self rather than love and giving?
Christmas is a travesty now; Jesus is the reason for the season and he is nowhere to be found, except in churches.
He came to earth over 2000 years ago and is as relevant today as in those times, His message is clear, and perhaps too simple for today's society.
Accept His coming as a personal challenge or not at all. "Happy Holidays" is the ultimate insult - the frills and brouhaha of Christmas are meaningless, without the significance of His birth.
B GUERNIER Hairini