Your View: Leaders require financial literacy

A selection of letters to the editor. Have your say by clicking the link at the bottom of this page. Please also see letters rules at the bottom of this page.

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In South America recently I checked out The Daily Post website and saw Steve Chadwick, Rotorua's unelected MP, extolling Labour's finance policy.

Politicians should have some qualifications in basic finance before being allowed to make such comments.

To further tax the so-called wealthy, already paying disproportionately more, is just socialist dogma at its worst.

The social experiment of the last century, communism, failed in part because innovators weren't rewarded.

If people creating wealth and opportunity feel the return isn't in New Zealand, they'll leave.

Mrs Chadwick also supports a capital gains tax but mentions nothing about a capital loss, which is paid by taxpayers.

In times of high demand the proposed capital tax would be added to sale prices.

Conversely, with excess supply, prices drop and vendors may be very happy to take a loss to apply that to other income.

It's just basic economics of supply and demand.

After WWII house prices and other products were controlled.

Prime Minister Muldoon brought in a wage and price freeze.

It was simply a matter of re-writing an employment contract every year and the employee was entitled to a wage rise.

When the freeze was lifted prices went through the roof.

As for removing GST on fresh food, what is the definition of fresh? The cost of changing the electronic charging at supermarkets would of course be paid by consumers.

I would suggest that all MPs be required to attend a forum on basic finance as part of their introduction into politics.

(Abridged)

JOHN DYER

Tarawera

I read with interest the "epistle" from councillor Charles Sturt in the Ngongotaha News, particularly about the attempted hijacking of the public meeting to discuss the Hamurana/Awahou Sewerage Scheme last month.

The chairperson refused to take a show of hands about how attendees felt council had handled communicating information to ratepayers and residents.

One question had to be asked three times before an answer was given over use of Ministry of Environment funding for current properties on the Hamurana/Awahou Sewerage scheme and that funding was not being held in reserve for future development.

This question was followed up with a letter to council from the Hamurana and Awahou Ratepayers and Residents Association, seeking clarification.

No reply has been received.

Nobody suggested there shouldn't be a sewerage scheme.

We object to the way council has ignored letters and emails over the last 18 months, including submissions made at hearings and how they've bullied us into what council wanted all along.

Cr Sturt says he empathised with residents over the cost. I'd love him to meet with pensioners desperate for answers and help who cannot see their way to paying the costs.

Why do we all have to pay an availability fee of $164 for a sewerage scheme that hasn't even been started?

Why are those with second dwellings on their properties being charged the full Hamurana/Awahou Sewerage Scheme Annual Rate of $805.53 on both when last September council said the second dwellings would be charged a percentage of the main rate?

JERRY DOUGLAS

Hamurana

Rotorua District Council Infrastructure Services group manager Nico Claassen responds:

The $164 charge Mr Douglas refers to is in fact just 50 per cent of the annual sewerage operation charge.

Property owners in this area are being charged only half of the fee as properties will be connected to the sewerage system during the current financial year.

The statement made in September that second dwellings on a property of less than 100sq/m would pay only a percentage of the full capital charge is correct.

Initially all second dwellings are charged the full capital rate for the sewerage scheme, with their rates invoices.

However the difference will subsequently be remitted on production of evidence that the second dwelling has an area of less than 100sq/m.

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