Letters to Editor: Night classes good

Night classes good for social contact

During the recent election manifestos offered by the political candidates, nowhere did I hear a policy about the night schools, which were a vital part of the social fabric of New Zealand.

Since the closure of these night classes, many folk, senior and others, miss the companionship and interchange of ideas that the social contact with other like-minded folk offered.

That some of these folk were never going to be university graduates or such like is beside the point.

Surely the social interaction is of greater importance.

To some folk, this was a pivotal part of their life.

Also, the classes on offer were of a varied nature and one could study for qualifications, if so desired.

The security angle meant there were people around the school buildings till around 9pm, which is surely a deterrent for those who set fires.

To me, it is such a waste to have these facilities lying idle at the close of the school day.

Trevor Douglas Wakely , Napier

Kimberly miracle

It was a pleasure to read Saturday's Hawke's Bay Today and see that Kimberly, our miracle girl, will be singing at Christmas in the Park.

It was unbelievable that doctors could turn off her life support against her parent's wishes.

She was young and has made it with the love and help of her parents.

Now if that was an elderly sick person and the family wanted their life support turned of it just doesn't happen, but when family do something to help their aged family member leave our shores they would be arrested and taken to court for manslaughter.

Sometimes people, when old and suffering, would like to leave our world in peace but this is not allowed.

It's just so opposite to Kimberly's experience as she is so young and full of life.

May her future be bright and it proves that singing and lots of love does help. Hope everyone sits up and takes notice.

Val King, Clive

Risk to water

I write in response to John Pfahlert's letter (November 16, Not relevant to NZ) which I found highly condescending.

By his own admission, Mr Pfahlert admits that fracking is not 100 per cent safe.

If there is "virtually zero chance of pollution of aquifers", then clearly there must be some chance.

Is this a chance we are prepared to take?

I would suggest no. Our economy depends on clean water, we depend on clean water and our water is not something that should be subject to any risk whatsoever.

Imagine if somehow a disaster were to happen (say an earthquake which shears the well), who would pay to clean up the aquifers, even if that could actually be achieved?

This is not something that would be as simple as cleaning up the oil from the Rena, this is happening underground.

We should also not forget that there is any amount of correlative evidence to suggest that fracking causes earthquakes.

How can this possibly be a risk worth taking in the Hawke's Bay, or even in Canterbury (another area Tag Oil is looking at fracking)?

Paul Bailey, Napier