October elections

Press, 6 September 1989, Page 20

October elections

Sir,—With reference to the “Cute. And at risk” advertisement (September 2), one wonders where are the parents of this child? There is no mention of the question of where the ultimate responsibility lies in the care of young children. The United-Citizens team believes in the positive encouragement of traditional values within our society, rather than unnecessary, negative scare tactics. Dr Morgan Fahey is an experienced family doctor who has made a special study of road accidents and drunken driving, an area where real knowledge in preventive measures is needed in this city. A United-Citizens team with Dr Fahey as Mayor would add an emphasis to the mission statement of the Canterbury Area Health Board: “Towards a healthy Canterbury, for and with the people.” — Yours, etc., JOCELYN V. HAY. September 2, 1989.

Sir, —The Labour Party seeks to capture'the Area Health Board in the October elections. Consider what this current Labour Government has done to our health services which Mr Lange said would be the best money could buy. It has imposed a draconian 10 per cent cut in funding by refusing to pay a staff wage increase and imposing an extra 2»/ 2 per cent GST, a sickness tax. It is a Labour Government that threatens to sack the board and replace it with a commissioner; it has panicked the board into breaching national agreements with its staff by neglecting joint consultation and effectiveness studies. It is our local Labour Party that has the nerve to state that we have to learn to live with reduced funding. So much for justice and democracy! In saying this, Labour people are the Minister’s men. We need new faces on the board, but not those who represent the Government which is dismantling our health services. — Yours, etc., K ORR September 3,1989. Sir,—l refer to the letter by Mary Corbett (September 2). At this time when there is great concern for safety within our community I believe the Christchurch Action Team’s caring, forward-looking policy plan of helping to double the Community Cop Shops within Christchurch will be well received by everyone. We can all help to work more closely with our police and our plan will encourage this and not cost our ratepayers an extra cent. — yours, etc., MARGARET MURRAY. September 4, 1989. (1) Letters submitted for printing in this column must not exceed 150 words. They should be written in ink or preferably typed on one side of the paper. Ample space must be left in the margins and between lines for sub-editing marks. (2) Letters written over pen-names or initials will not ordinarily be considered for publication. A legible signature and full postal address — not a P.O. Box number — are essential. (3) The correspondent must say whether the letter has been or is to be submitted elsewhere. The Editor does not undertake to acknowledge, hold, return or enter into correspondence on any letter not accepted for publication.