Q. Recently you sorted the problem of getting rid of scraps of fabric. I have a similar question - how to recycle old clothes - clean but no longer wearable. We used to be able to put them into the "rag bags" which were delivered to our letterboxes. However, I haven't seen one of those for years.
There were also the clothing bins, some of which used to take rags. However, they all now say they want "good used clothing".
Is there anywhere, preferably in South Auckland, which collects and recycles rags?
Hilary Cheeseman, South Auckland.
I'm surprised that you don't still get the pink plastic rag bags in your letterbox: I do, albeit somewhat irregularly.
However, you may still put clean but worn-out clothing in the charity clothing bins. A friend who used to run a series of such bins told me that any clothing that was recyclable was passed on to charity shops. Those articles that could not be so used were sold to companies that turn them into rags for use in such businesses as garages and machine shops and car painters and the like.
Q. I notice that signage on the motorway now calls the suburb Green Lane, whereas local signage has it as one word. Is this a mistake, or have we all been wrong all these years? Kathy Scott, Auckland.
The motorway signage points to Green Lane, the road. It's an anomaly - the suburb is Greenlane (one word), the roads are Green Lane East and Green Lane West.
Despite the suburb being Greenlane, the original spelling of the lane was Green Lane, and was named from the lush appearance of the countryside thereabouts. Ah, when all of this was fields ...
Q. For as long as I can remember, I have always stopped at compulsory stop signs. I have no problem with this. The problem I do have though is with motorists who have tooted at me if I have stopped, and on one occasion even bumped into my car. One of the worst intersections I have noted is the Plunket Ave/ Wiri Station Rd intersection which is clearly marked with stop signs and road markings. I took it upon myself recently to monitor this intersection for one hour. I counted 187 vehicles that did not stop, and five vehicles that did stop. With this in mind, is failing to stop at stop signs still being treated with as much importance as other traffic offences?
Anatole Bieleski, Manukau.
It is still an offence not to stop at a compulsory stop sign, and the penalty for transgression is $150.
However, monitoring all intersections is an impossibility - there simply aren't the resources available. But I know that police do take note of instances such as the one you describe, and focus on them when possible. For those who don't stop; you have been warned.