Good stop on CGT
Sir Michael Cullen is to be congratulated for his opinion piece (
NZ Herald, April 23
). It smacks down the opinion of mostly conservative-leaning media who think Jacinda Ardern should have fought harder for a CGT. The majority of the print media are conservative leaning, they deny it, but one only has to read the mainstream reporters opinions prior to the announcement that the CGT was a no-go, but also the radio jocks (and a certain prominent podcaster) to come to this conclusion. I am not a fan of Winston Peters but he had every right to veto it. With his fan base being mostly elderly farmers and elderly rental owners he would have been totally rejected at the next election if he had supported a CGT. Ardern made the right call to put it off the agenda while she is leader, that same media would have relished accusing the Labour Party of having a secret CGT agenda for months to come. She showed true leadership. Long may her leadership continue.
Mike Crosby, Papakura
Without apparent irony, Cullen (NZ Herald, April 23) chides the disadvantaged for their lack of spare time, money and energy in making submissions to the Tax Working Group. He also mentions the requirement to be pragmatic working with an MMP government as another reason for the rejection of CGT. Two weeks ago, Jacinda could have thrown Winston under a bus and not even have had to pay for the damage to the bus.
Disappointing on two counts.
Peter Lange, Mt Eden
Intercity buses
I was appalled to read of this action of the Intercity bus driver (
NZ Herald, April 22
). The poor child must have been traumatised on finding himself left behind.
I applaud the passenger who had laid the complaint with the company.
The thing that really astounds me, however, is the fact that in this day and age there are no onboard toilets on Intercity transport. It is ridiculous to expect passengers to wait for "comfort stops" at times set by this company.
I travelled from Paihia to North Shore on the Big Red Bus which had a toilet on board for the comfort of the passengers and only stopped at drop off and pick up points. Sadly this bus has now stopped running.
Come on Intercity, move into the 21st Century.
Carol Hegarty, Milford
Kauri dieback
I find it hard to believe that people with such a tunnel visioned view of the world as Bruce Robertson still exist. (NZ Herald, April 23). Does he not realise that kauri are the keystone to the life of the forest in these ranges? Without them all the other trees will struggle to survive and we will end up with a huge range of scrub. Also, he may think about the fact that they are unique to New Zealand and were here before man ever set foot on these islands. Without them the world would be a much poorer place. Is this really what a majority of younger people think? If so, I shudder for the future of this country and the world as a whole for that matter.
Oliver Watson, Snells Beach
Auckland Transport
With all the political changes and dreadful Auckland Transport decisions hitting the general public, the mayor is rightly starting to feel the community's anger.
However, the community should be asking Goff and the council why they removed the two councillors from Auckland Transport? Now the council has no visibility of the arrogant distant, law unto themselves, Auckland Transport. They will report once a year to the council, tell them what they want them to know, and it is far too distant from the council and the ratepayers to be held to account.
To refuse to go to a meeting of 600 people to explain why they are removing carparks is appalling. They have a responsibility to explain and answer questions. This is what a democracy is about. Making decisions behind closed doors, and doing just as they please, destroys the public's confidence in the organisation.
So, I have no sympathy for Goff, as leader he too should have been thinking of accountability to his ratepayers before he allowed Auckland Transport to become so remote and so arrogantly unaccountable to the people of Auckland.
Verdun McClelland, Tauranga
Auckland Transport (NZ Herald, April 23) should focus its attention on maintaining our assets to a good standard rather than the current focus on hare-brained, mind-blowingly expensive schemes to reduce traffic flow and parking spaces across the city under the guise of public safety, thereby giving their planners something to do.
The partner of the 88-year-old man that died (NZ Herald, April 22) apparently as a result of a fall in Newmarket because of unfilled tree pits that have reportedly been in that state for years, should contact the police regarding manslaughter charges once the coronial inquest is completed.
Jackie Wilkinson, Sandringham
Hydrogen fuel
Articles touting the use of hydrogen as a carbon-free fuel keep appearing (
NZ Herald, April 23
).
But as a practical fuel for our vehicle fleet there are some fundamental problems as pointed out by James Kunstler 15 years go in his book
The Long Emergency
.
Hydrogen is very common (about 73 per cent of all matter), but is highly reactive and always found in compounds such as water. It costs more in energy to separate hydrogen than we get back when pure hydrogen is used as a fuel.
Hydrogen is much less dense than other fuels so would either require far larger tanks to store it or very strong pressurised tanks if the gas is compressed. It might take up to 20 times as many hydrogen tankers on the road as our present fleet of petrol tankers to keep all the new fuel stations supplied.
Hydrogen is prone to leakage as it is very corrosive of seals and valves - and as the Hindenburg disaster showed those leaks can lead to explosive fireballs. Even though the high pressure fuel tanks in cars may be built to withstand damage in a collision, the much more delicate plumbing connections from the tank would always be susceptible to rupture.
Graeme Easte, Mt Albert
Tax on cannabis
If cannabis was legalised for recreational use in NZ then yes it should attract the same (or similar) excise tax as currently applied to tobacco. As is found in the USA this tax is much welcomed by local govt/council to help fund moderation (safe use) plus regulation as well as funding for the ever increasing needs of local community projects.
Also in reply to PJ Vucich (NZ Herald, April 23), possibly cannabis would be more expensive than current "street prices" but who is going to bother buying off the street when you can purchase a known potency and strain from a shop open 9-5, seven days a week? Just like I cannot be bothered to make beer, wine or spirits today (even if it is easy to make it for half the price). The market forces will dictate convenience over black market forces.
Simon Cope, Meadowbank
Short & Sweet
On Sri Lanka
After the recent events in Sri Lanka, it's good to see the global outpouring of love for Catholics equalling, if not surpassing, the recent outpour of love for Muslims.
Bernard Jennings, Island Bay
On kauri
Why should future generations of Aucklanders have to travel tens of kilometres to see a kauri? The trees were here before Auckland. Perhaps Bruce Robertson should rephrase - if the people cannot coexist with the trees, the people must go.
Brian Giles, Hauraki
On vested interests
Would the Herald please publish an updated report of the property holdings of all MPs so we can all see in whose interest they have been acting?
Rod Lyons, Muriwai
Does extravagant remuneration for chairing the Tax Working Group count as a "vested interest" too?
Mike Wagg, Freemans Bay
On Crusaders
Robinson Crusoe, a great yarn, but, Crusoe had his "Man" Friday. Someone, somewhere will shout white man supremacy.
Elly Inta, Henderson
On saving
Another tip: Join the local library, this will open a whole new world for you. Don't knock it until you try it.
Judith Bouwman, Torbay
