8
Monday December 8, 2014
readers have their say... Find out the WORD on the Street.
Question: What do you want for Christmas and why?
Tom Sharp, Te Aro
Kat Scott, Newtown
Tiernay Colquhoun, Newtown
“A good Christmas dinner with family. I don’t really need anything else.”
“I get to hang out with my boyfriend for Christmas. That’s all I want”
“Money, because I want to travel more around New Zealand and you need money to do that unfortunately.”
Colin Holloway, Brooklyn
Leon Sparks, Perth
“I’m terrible because I’m not a really big present person.”
“Family to be together.”
Ricky Stringer, Newtown “John Key to be out of parliament because he is really not helping New Zealand.”
SPECIALISTS IN 22 CARAT & FINE GOLD JEWELLERY
185 Riddiford St, Newtown | 04 389 8888
LETTERS
Licensed buyers and sellers of old Gold Jewellery repairs and remodeling Valuation Watches Bracelets Pendants Earrings Bangles Gold Chains Battery change $12.00 Offers considered
to the editor
Should we expect wall to be carved-up? Dear Ed, before the Association is accused of being anti-development on this particular issue, or anti-home buyers, I would like it to be noted that the Miramar/ Maupuia Progressive Association’s sole aim is to
preserve an historical wall. Those who read the article might note that a ‘win-win’ solution was promoted i.e. an entry parallel to the wall for vehicles (and perhaps also for pedestrians for there isn’t any walkway after the intersection
Sad to see beloved op-shop close Dear Ed, I am writing in response to the article in the Cook Strait News (November 24) regarding the Strathmore Park Community op-shop closure. We too as a single income family of five are very sad to see our beloved op-shop close down. We were weekly visitors to the op-shop, both to donate and to buy. What a great outlet for the community, especially for those who couldn’t always afford to buy new goods. The staff were fantastic, so
friendly, helpful and welcoming. It is such a shame to pass by now and see it gone. We agree that there is already a range of advice available at the Strathmore Community Centre, so it seems unusual to be opening a similar service so close by. It was really good to read your article and get a little insight as to what has happened - hopefully the Cook Strait News will be able to keep the community informed of any further news regarding this. D Johnson
from Otaki Street to the substation verging on Strathmore Park, on the eastern side) to access. The issue, as was explained, was with the process. We believe that Council officers chose/did not consult with their
own heritage listing prior to granting consent. We would also wonder about land stability given that it was not thoroughly combusted before the upper area was built upon however that is not our issue or
Op-shop offered so much to the community Dear Ed, I agree wholeheartedly with the comments made by the four residents (Anger surrounds op-shop closure, November 24). The op-shop offered much to the community, their prices were a fraction of all the other so-called charity op-shops. As I see it the shop could have remained open until Christmas eve, this would have helped the less fortunate patrons with Christmas gifts for example. But no, on the whim of a
person with big ideas that could be attributed to herself, managed to persuade the committee to close the shop early. It could have remained open making money instead of using council funding to support an empty shop to duplicate what is already functioning at the base (budgeting, kai bosh, some other courses). I truly believe that there is more to this than meets the eye. Name withheld
He should know better
More than just an op-shop
Dear Ed, In reply to Susan Belt’s comments (November 17) on my recent letter, I would like to comment that I was NOT trying to correct Sam Duff’s spelling mistakes in the Cook Strait News. I was trying to point out uses of a word in the wrong context. That is another matter. If a local journalist did not have English as his first language I would cut him some slack. This is not the case here. I was very surprised that a local journalist who (reputedly) won the top award for his year and who has a university degree could show such deficiencies in his grasp of the English language as to write pass-time for
Dear Ed, I am saddened by the arbitrary manner in which the opshop in Strathmore has been axed. I think any decisions made re this decision should have been open to public discussion, so that WCC and community workers could appreciate the feeling of the locals. This shop has had real value to the community, and I think it’s naive to say it has just provided a service to those who need cheap clothes and utensils. It also allowed people to meet, and may have been better placed for people to meet than the Strathmore community hall. In a world where recycling is now the only solution to ever increasing landfills, it’s environ-
pastime (e.g.). There WAS a time when newspapers were a showcase for the exemplary use of the English language. Alas no longer. Nowadays newspapers seem keen to demonstrate the decline in writing skills of today’s professionals. Of course the CONTENT of the news is always interesting and long may that aspect of local newspapers continue! And if anyone DID want to have a field day hunting out bad grammar and spelling mistakes they would need to look no further than the advertisements of real estate agents! Christine Swift, Island Bay
Op-shop closure makes for miserable Christmas Dear Ed, I strongly feel that they (The Strathmore Park Community Board) should have kept the op-shop (November 24) open and not open up a satellite centre, as they are already providing services at the community centre. Why can’t the board apply for or source some funding to keep the op-shop open? So many community members at large are absolutely doing it hard. Won’t be a very happy Christmas this year. Name withheld
mentally crucial that we recycle or up-cycle every item we can. With New Zealand groaning under loads of cheap imported non-biodegradable items, we should be opening more op shops, not only to help those who have needs, but to allow us to try and keep as much stuff out of the landfills which I am sure cost a lot more to run annually than the small amounts needed to subsidise an op-shop. If it’s not too late I would like to have a discussion with locals, our Mayor and councillors on why we are closing the very sort of operations that we so desperately need. Allan Jenkins, Seatoun (abridged)
responsibility. There are another two empty sites on the land. Should we expect a further carving up of the wall? Robin Boldarin Chairperson, Miramar Maupuia Progressive Association
Letters on issues of community interest are welcomed. Guidelines are that they should be no longer than 150 words. They must be signed and a street address provided to show good faith, even if a nom de plume is provided for publication. The editor reserves the right to abridge letters or withhold unsuitable letters from publication. Send or fax them to the address on page two, or email them to samduff@wsn.co.nz. Please note that your name and street address must also be provided in e mails.