Their more compassionate governments recognise that food is a necessity and is needed to keep everyone, and especially children, in good health, saving on health costs.
It is amazing that so many economic commentators continue with the myth that 15 per cent GST on groceries is a fair and simple tax.
It is not, when imposed on essential purchases such as food. It is grossly unjust.
When will our policy-makers follow the example of sensible governments, remove GST from groceries and ensure that all our children have enough to eat?
ROSEMARY MICHIE
Rotorua
Exclusive nukes club
I don't understand why the United States, Russia, Britain, France, China, India, Pakistan and Israel are all allowed to have unlimited nuclear weapons, but Iran and North Korea are not allowed to have any.
STEPHEN PALMER
Bastia Hill
Stopbanks and our debt
Rachel Rose (Chronicle, July 1) had an informative article on stopbanks, retreat and costs.
Stopbanks do just that; they stop the river from getting in, but there is a downside.
They stop the runoff getting out, which means they are basically useless unless they are backed up with huge pumps or catch-and-slow-release dams.
So with our early warning system in place and well monitored, it's best to do what was done last time.
Sure, it has a cost and is a nuisance, but because of the huge debt monkey we are throwing around our necks it's all we can afford.
Those that live [in the flood zone] and think that's not good enough will have to look at raising their houses, with the council doing what they did last time.
It's called cutting your cloth to what you can afford.
I would suggest that until we get over the wastewater debt, the people who live there have no right to demand that the rest of us solve their problem.
G R SCOWN
Whanganui
Flood protection
Articles from Rachel Rose (Chronicle, July 1) and, the previous week, Steve Baron about "tokens in boxes" and other matters just reinforce their lack of knowledge on matters like flood protection and what "community involvement" is all about.
Climate change has far greater impact on rivers and sea levels than most can understand.
Horizons now has a new group manager river management and the timing is really a life-saver (or will be in the future).
His promotion to the job could not have come at a better time, coupled with David Cotton, a local lad from Wanganui, as chairman of catchment operations.
Under a regime that ruled river management in Horizons and the local WDC for too long, Wanganui spent millions of dollars on ridiculous stopbanks in Gilberd St at the widest part of the Wanganui River, and built up stopbanks on Anzac Parade that blew out a few months later -- that $1 million would have been better spent diverting stormwater build-up behind Whanganui East and moving houses that can't be lifted.
Some people compare what Wanganui has and what Palmerston North got -- again, lack of knowledge. Check the per-capita income/wealth and debt, the population numbers and hopefully a picture may form. You can't compare the two rivers or cities.
Rachel Rose needs to know that, yes, Horizons does have a responsibility for the safety of Whanganui people from the river.
Early warning systems and planned evacuation are sufficient for those people living on flood plains at the moment. These people need to have their own personal evacuation plans.
I would call that stage one. Stages two and three would require physical work in reducing damage to land and property and, yes, that could take 10 or 15 years to complete.
That would be in the hands of Ramon Strong and David Cotton, in whom I have total confidence.(Abridged)
BOB WALKER
St John's Hill
