Crates for bags
I have a very good alternative to plastic shopping bags. Each week I take two folding crates -- one for greengroceries (the apples and onions don't end up rolling around the boot) and one for the supermarket (the buns and eggs are not squashed because the bottles are still upright).
These crates take up very little room in the trolley when folded, and I pack them myself so I know light things are on top.
They are available in at least one of our hardware stores and cost about $18.
This is not expensive when they will last at least 15 years -- mine show no signs of wearing out yet.
Perhaps our supermarkets could stock them alongside the reusable bags.
DALE COLEMAN
Whanganui
Overpaid players
I quite often shake my head when reading about salaries of sports people.
Another two cases today (July 8). First the tennis player who can't be bothered to put any effort into a game and gets paid $60,000 for that.
Then the soccer player Messi. To avoid a 21-month jail sentence for tax fraud, he buys it off for 235,000 euros and pays this amount in 24 instalments. His salary is only 71,000,000 euros per year!
As a fervent soccer man, I love a good game of football, but money has taken away the pleasure from the players concerned.
Look at the World Cup final several years ago: Holland versus Spain. The standard of play from both teams was way below par.
Any employee who performed like that would be fired.
It's about time professional sportspeople got paid a normal salary. And I'd like to go back to the time when a club could only have two foreigners in a team and more loyal players.
Look at Spain: One of the poorest countries in Europe and they have one of the richest clubs in the world.
Get rid of the transfer market. I am sure the fun will come back.
While we are talking money, everybody is talking about the fact that the rich are getting richer, the poor, poorer. They all blame the government, whichever party is in power.
Look all over the world, the problem is everywhere: America, Europe, Russia, you name it. People now are greedy; they are not happy with what they've got and want more.
It's about time companies looked at their top staff.
They don't have to get (I don't use the word earn) millions of dollars for their input. Imagine what a company could do with that spare money. Employ more staff for a living wage, for instance.
No, I am not jealous. I just find the excessive amounts people get ridiculous.
JOOP DOODEMAN
Durie Hill