Letters: Let the public vote on alcohol in supermarkets

Will he tell us who asked him for this legislation and justify his position that the damage will not increase? Typical coalition mentality: damage and evidence are irrelevant.

Anyone would think that supermarket lobbyists need this “signed, sealed, delivered” before the next local body elections so that there is no room for excuses. They do. The drug deal protocol is ‘taste the goods’, then you’ll see the money.

Act’s logic: alcohol anxiety requires more fast chargers, the “EV range anxiety” model. The political style of “they eat dogs” requires a swift approach.

“You need drinks in every supermarket”… to encourage harmless consumption. What a bad joke.

Steve Russell, Hillcrest

Fear of censorship

The concern of Dr. Jarrod Gilbert, sociologist at the University of Canterbury, that students are not coming to class, but rather choosing to participate remotely in courses that are not designed that way (HeraldOctober 28), don’t speak in class and are disengaged, claiming they have anxiety issues, may have missed the point.

Could it be that the fault for all this lies with the universities themselves and not entirely with the students? Many years ago, universities were bastions of free thought, open debate and debate, from professors to freshmen.

However, could the reasons for student disengagement as outlined by Gilbert be emblematic of the decline in our universities’ commitment to a willingness to protect the views of all involved in the debate, even in the face of disagreement?

An example of this was the response to the letter published in the letter by several University of Auckland academics Listener (2021) arguing that Mātauranga Māori is not science in the traditional sense. There were calls for these academics to be censored.

If academics are at risk of being censored at their own university, what hope will ordinary students have if they will express their own opinions on whatever topic they are passionate about, not out of fear, but out of fear of being censored.

Bernard Walker, Mount Maunganui

Faith is not logical

The interesting thing about faith is that it cannot be weakened by logical analysis. Christianity is 2000 years old, but Hinduism is 4000 years old. Christianity believes in one true god, Hindus believe in three.

Doesn’t this mean that one group is wrong? And yet every group is convinced that it is right.

Atheists believe that both groups are mistaken, and many studies have shown that atheists make the same moral decisions as religious people. Faith is not a requirement for honesty and fairness.

Chris Elias, Parnell

A public works scandal

A famous line from Shakespeare was: “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.”

How can the cost of repairing just the tiny Viaduct Harbor bridge go from $7.5 million to $10.6 million without anyone batting an eye?

There should be a full public inquiry into these shocking price increases for public works.

The rail tunnel to nowhere is another scandal. A rail tunnel of a few kilometers currently costs $5.5 billion and is years behind schedule, and no one is batting an eyelid. Please note that the flyover bridge charges are for repairs only.

Just imagine what the costs would be if it were a new bridge? How can we even consider building another port crossing? The cost increases under the current system would bankrupt the country.

The viaduct bridge repair cost scandal needs a proper public inquiry to uncover the real reasons why public works always cost much more.

Let’s do it.

Jock MacVicar, Hauraki

American media machinations

An interesting article by Katie Harris (Weekend heraldNovember 2). Although this US approval issue is academic. It’s not like the whole world doesn’t know which side of the fence the Washingtonpost is editorial. Jeff Bezos instructing the company to the contrary is nonsense and only reinforces his well-known position.

Likewise, and despite (Stuff owner Sinead) Boucher’s comments, in New Zealand we all know where our various media outlets sit politically. You just have to read, listen or watch to find out. And there’s no problem with that: I don’t know much about the machinations of the American media, but fortunately we are blessed with a high level of political commentary and observation from our media.

Mike Newland, Matakana

Off the rails

In his entertaining piece about English rugby fans, Phil Gifford talks about a train from Twickenham. “It was England, so of course the train broke down.” So unlike the rail services in Auckland or Wellington?

John Gardner, Rothesay Bay

Kiwi crime riddle

Why, for such a small country, does Aotearoa have so many unsolved murders, cover-ups of child sex and abuse and wrongful convictions?

Bruce Tubb, Devonport

PayWave charges

The extra surcharge you have to pay in some places these days when you pay with a credit card is outrageous and in my twenty years in the motel industry I would never even think of adding a surcharge. I loved seeing people come in with a smile and an even bigger smile when they left because they never got stung. I gave them a reward for their stay with us.

Any businessman who wants Joe Bloggs to come to them, but then hits him or her in the face and pocket by charging him or her extra to use his credit card, doesn’t deserve customers. Bear the costs or take the matter to your bank, but don’t hurt the people who feed you.

Gary Stewart, Foxton Beach