Your views: Readers' letters

In the future, "parking meter charges" could take on a whole new meaning.

Energy dreams

Re Simon Waters' editorial (July 10), is he taking the proverbial or is he serious?

Item no 1, turn all parking meters into electric vehicle charging stations: Excellent. Then I can park my proper car for free. That would be a nice change from being fleeced at every turn by a government and local tax of one sort or another.

Think again if you think any government can afford the loss of all that tax that is gathered from the motoring public. While initially there will be incentives to go electric cars, once everybody has been conned into the biggest con of all time , the Wombles of Wellington will be back into our pockets again to compensate for the loss.

Idea no 2: First of all he recommends we all should have solar roofs, but then says we should have a wave station, wind turbines and battery banks. He says he is no accountant -- that's obvious.

I can't believe he is serious. We have a power system now and when Tiwai Point shuts down there will be additional power available. We also have another wind farm going up at Waverley.

Unfortunately, we had the "Phantom Banker" flog off 49 per cent of this public asset to his tory mates. So we have a system in place which is already over 80 per cent renewable and Mr Waters wants to duplicate it.

He also suggests that maybe council pay ratepayers. I am not sure whether he is In La La Land or a part of the loopy brigade from the Greens.

A BARRON
Aramoho

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Were they pushed?

Hopefully this responsive missive will see the light of day in a timely manner (which, of course, all should if relevance is to be maintained). Denise Lockett is to be congratulated for managing to support Jay Kuten (Chronicle, July 15), whereas letters uncovering that gentleman's lack of military knowledge and detail seem to go missing in action. However, I digress.

Her letter also contained reference to me and an assurance that only members of the police were behind her. This is at variance with details of the event supplied to me by a large bewhiskered gentleman wearing a Tyrolean hat that day. When the pending court case against Mr Borrows was publicised, he advised me and anyone else within a 10-metre radius one evening that he actually pushed the women forward into the path of the car. I based my comment on his statement, as I had no reason to question his version of the facts.

I suspect the truth lies somewhere in the middle, but who cares?

D PARTNER
Eastown

Editor's note: Photographer Bevan Conley's video of the incident (viewable on the Chronicle's website) clearly shows that the gentleman described was nowhere near the two women when the car came into contact with them.

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Nurse numbers

Re your piece about our "DHB underfunded by $800k" (Monday's Chronicle).

To use a catchphrase, it's been scientifically proven that having more nurses makes a safer environment for both patients and staff.

Vote carefully in September, New Zealand, to ensure a nurse is there when you need one.

ANGELA STRATTON
Durie Hill

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Bag ban: it's easy

Coles Bay, Tasmania, is known as a place of beauty. It has a huge range of natural attractions, including sea and land birds, marsupials, dolphins and whales.

At the minimarket you're confronted by a sign advising that no plastic bags are held in store. You're welcome to take in your own shopping bags; alternatively they'll sell you paper bags.

No plastic bags -- it's easy! Whanganui could lead the way!

LINDSAY STOCKBRIDGE
Whanganui