localmatters.co.nz
YOU S AY
Email letters to editor@localmatters.co.nz
We welcome your letters but letters under 300 words are preferred. We reserve the right to abridge them. Unabridged versions can be read under Opinion at localmatters. co.nz. Letters can be sent to editor@localmatters.co.nz or PO Box 701, Warkworth
Let’s get physical It is alarming to learn from Leo Leitch of Snells Beach (You Say, Mar 5) of the apparent collapse in moral fibre that he is observing, over just a generation, he says. He describes a cesspit of abortion, sodomy, and school leavers taking up prostitution, all this caused by “relentless propaganda from feminist media and suppression of contrary viewpoints”. And he says part of this turpitude is that we are no longer allowed to hit children to “encourage good behaviour”. Perhaps he has read Voltaire who said the execution of Admiral Byng was pour encourager les autres. It’s odd, because just over the hill here at Algies Bay about all we seem to have is weekend speedsters and apparent receivers of stolen goods. Tame by comparison. I know little of rough areas such as Snells or Omaha. John Patrick (You Say, Feb 19), to whom Leo Leitch was responding, merely pointed out that “spanking” is often somewhat more than that in practice, and he asked why children should be subjected to what would be assault if done to an adult. I entirely agree. Violence is the real problem – teaching it and dishing it out. I still wonder what it is with these people seemingly terrified they may not be allowed to hit children. Anyway, Leo says he now pins his lingering hopes on the Muslims to teach us moral standards. Huh? Were we really better behaved a generation ago when we all got walloped? It’s drivel for the credulous. Ross Miller, Algies Bay Oh dear! Your correspondent, Leo Leitch, felt obliged to express his 17th century, misogynist views — everything he doesn’t like is the fault of women (feminists). I wonder what Mary would have said about that. I am always amazed that people who claim to be Christians can express such nasty, un-Christian views. I wonder what Jesus would have said about that. Elizabeth Foster, Whangateau
Master builders Yes, we do need more jobs in the area for young people (We Say, Mar 5), but more than that we need local people to use the services already here. Year after year we see new people moving to the larger Warkworth area
bringing their local tradesman with them to build that new home, then they move here to our wonderful community. The Warkworth area has some of the best builders and associated tradespeople and contractors in the country, as evidenced in the Master Builder competitions. These are the very businesses that have been the backbone of the community over many years. They all need our support. A very big thank-you to those who move here and do support our local businesses, and to those who keep on supporting. Donna Wyllie, Warkworth
Sealed with a hiss Once again there are more articles and letters on unsealed roads. I live on one of the ones that looks as though it will be on the 20-year plan. We choose to live in our area but we don’t choose to have a road that is dangerous to drive on. We have potholes from one end to the other, along with some very nice corrugations and very little metal. The dust nuisance is extreme but when the rain arrives it turns to slush. Prior to the Auckland Council taking over, our roads were inspected and maintained by local companies who did a grand job. Now nothing. What is worse is the fact that they are now resealing sealed roads that do not need it. Kaipara Flats Road and Woodcocks Road are a case in point, plus a piece of road from Mason Heights Road to the single lane bridge before Falls Road on which there is a large construction taking place with trucks in and out of a driveway destroying any new seal. It is a massive waste of money and something needs to be done to get all our unsealed roads up to a decent and safe standard. Lorraine Atkin, Kaipara Flats
Hill Street Blues I was interested to read about the latest delay to the upgrade of the Hill Street intersection in Warkworth (MM, Mar 5). It seems to me, although I haven’t got any figures, that a large majority of the traffic is straight through on the State Highway, and between the State Highway and Snells Beach. Has anyone carried out an origin-anddestination survey? continued page 6
March 19, 2014
Mahurangi Matters
5