DOUG PRICE
Castlecliff
Mark's medals
While perusing the internet news sites, I discovered a photo of the esteemed new Minister of Defence, Ron Mark,wearing his military medals.
The photo was taken during a gathering of Maori MPs and the wearing of medals was not only unnecessary, it was totally inappropriate. I guess that is a measure of the man.
However, the thing that really annoyed me was that he was wearing his medals incorrectly, something I emailed him about a couple of years ago, plus his wearing of an Omani beret and badge at an Anzac Day ceremony. He decided not to reply.
Ron Mark served for a number of years in the New Zealand Army in the Royal New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers before going to Oman as a mercenary.
The protocol for the wearing of medals in NZ is that NZ medals (i.e. those awarded by the Queen) take precedence over foreign awards.
The first three medals are Omani, having been awarded by the Sultan, and have no real consequence, being basically trinkets. One of them is a 15-year birthday medal!
The other four medals are NZ medals starting with the black-and-white Operational Service Medal, all awarded for service in the NZ Army.
If Ron Mark wishes to wear his Omani medals, they must be mounted after these NZ medals.
The correct mounting of his medals is not only important as an ex-serviceman, it is imperative in his position as Minister of Defence. Failure to correct this error is an insult to all past, present and future NZ service men and women.
D PARTNER
Eastown
A billion trees
In the Chronicle of November 8, Stan Hood worries how on earth we are going to plant the one billion trees that this new Government wants planted.
I attended a Green Party lecture by Dr Kennedy Graham just prior to his leaving the party, and he wanted two million hectares planted in trees.
What worries me is not so much the cost of planting them but the "opportunity cost" of the lost grazing land. Rest assured, it will be farmland that is planted.
One billion trees at 1000 to the hectare (a likely density for Pinus radiata) means this government plans to plant one million hectares.
Assume the land used was carrying five ewes per hectare producing five lambs for export at an average of $200 a head - simple maths and conservative figures, I think.
The forests will be foreign-owned, as is the norm, and any carbon credits will go offshore.
Stan's worry that the planting cannot be done is sadly untrue.
My worry is that it can be done - we are looking at a multibillion-dollar economic disaster.
WILLIAM PARTRIDGE
Hunterville
Article sought
I have an original copy of the January-March 1966 edition of The Wanganui Tramper.
This was sent to the family from our "Uncle Tom" (Thomas Shout) around the time it was published.
What I am hoping is that someone has access to the previous edition, which has an article written by Tom about his first climb of Mt Ruapehu in 1924.
KATHRYN ATKINS
West Gippsland, Victoria, Australia
(One of many of the extended family, of which three are his nieces, aged 92, 90 and 88).
Planning holdup
We noted a recent letter to the editor regarding the planning department of the Whanganui District Council and thought we should add our own experience.
At the beginning of 2017, my wife and I decided to sell our existing home and build a retirement house on a small section. A suitable section was bought in May, the hefty rates paid, builder selected, plans drawn up and we listed the house for sale.
To ensure we gave our builders adequate time to complete the house building, we arranged a long settlement on the house. In a very short time, the house was sold, the six months waiting time accepted and late September agreed as handover date.
Earthworks were started on our new section and we looked forward to completion; however, this was not to be. Problems with retaining walls and height recession plane restrictions, and other obstacles were raised by the planning department of the district council, despite the fact that the building permit had been issued and our builder's engineer had certified the earthworks.
But the planners were having none of it and, by August - with no agreement despite a meeting between us, the builder, lawyers and council staff - resource consent was denied and has still not been issued.
It should be noted here that ratepayers' money has probably been used to employ very expensive lawyers, all over a small building site. Hardly a ringing endorsement for people planning on building in Whanganui.
Despite his own not-inconsiderable expense, our builder has done the right thing and repaid all monies paid to him, but his fight with the Whanganui District Council goes on.
A very poor showing, considering the high rates we pay to live in our lovely little city.
LES PURDY
Whanganui
Send your letters to: The Editor, Wanganui Chronicle, 100 Guyton St, PO Box 433, Wanganui 4500; or email editor@wanganuichronicle.co.nz
