Letters: How 'free' is free Crankworx locals day?

Crowds at Crankworx slopestyle event 2016. Photo/File-

I read in a half page council promotion (Rotorua Daily Post March 21), that there is a free day for locals at Crankworx. How nice. However, how free is 'free'?

The council, the ratepayers that is, is paying $375,000 over five years towards this commercial business. That's what it is, a commercial business, and for a local council to subsidise this is just absurd in my view.

Of course we are also told by our council that Crankworx brings in millions into our local economy. Have you noticed? If it does this goes only into a few pockets, not mine. In case this is not enough, the government also paid $1.7 million towards this. In other words, we subsidise this business as taxpayers as well as ratepayers, one can hardly call this 'free'. It is all smoke and mirrors.

HARRY BRASSER
Rotorua

The 2.2% rise in food prices to the year ending February 2017 will naturally increase the amount of GST paid to the government. It will also increase the disproportion of GST paid by low income families in relation to their income compared to higher income families.

Those discussing possible tax cuts do not seem to have taken the unjust GST on food paid by low income families compared to that paid by higher income families into consideration. Groceries are not an optional purchase. We all need to eat.

Rising food prices combined with low wages, higher rents are also increasing the numbers of people seeking help from the voluntary agencies such as food banks.

The working for families income top-up seems to be an extremely complicated and ponderous way of giving relief to low income families. Especially now when so many workers often work different hours week to week. Removing GST from groceries is an obvious solution. GST free groceries is standard practice in many Western countries including Canada, Australia, the UK and others. There is no reason why a New Zealand version could not be implemented.

This is an important issue which needs to be discussed with all political parties, candidates, community organisations and individuals during the months leading up to the September election.

ROSEMARY MICHIE
Rotorua