Letter to the Editor Thursday January 15, 2015

Remember when ...

Years ago our family and neighbours would go to the beach or around the rocks etc on horseback or Model A truck and trailer, adults on the outside, kids in amongst the food boxes for safety. What fun we had.

To catch mullet the net was tied to a horse's tail and the men went out and dragged, safely. If we saw a motorbike it was "Wow!"

There is a notice by the school that says the road rules apply on the beach, like 50 or 70km/h signs. No one reads them. And the liquor ban signs. I see adults drinking alcohol and kids on two- and four-wheel bikes on the beach, some with all the gear. Poverty?

This includes locals on benefits; they've all got two - or four-wheel bikes. Poverty? No helmets. Are you going to have a driver's licence when you're on the road?

When visitors have an accident they expect firemen, Surf Rescue, ambulance people to attend to them, and maybe the rescue helicopter. They forget these people are all volunteers. And what about employers when these people have to leave their jobs?

I see some of the things happening on our lovely beach. It is lucky there aren't more accidents. Our days were the good old days. Things have changed, and not for the better.

Sympathy to the parents of the 9-year-old boy who died.

SIXTY-YEAR RESIDENT

Ahipara