How large a rabble do we need in Parliament?
I really do hope that Dr Robert Hamlin’s piece on why local councils are inherently bound to fail (Opinion ODT 19.12.15) receives wide readership and community discussion.
I would add some thoughts to his well-constructed piece.
Parliaments and councils are governance bodies whose main function is to set policies for the bureaucrats to follow. It may well be the case that this happens in the main with Parliament, but it is certainly not the case with local government.
How many times is it heard that well-meaning and visionary people are elected to councils to put in place the will of the people but within a very short time they are frustrated by the staff of councils who largely determine what councils actually do?
Dr Hamlin argues that political parties are essential in any democracy, but in New Zealand, formal political parties did not emerge until 1890. Prior to that time, the best person would emerge from those elected who could form a working Cabinet.
I would argue that the current mix of the House of Representatives, through the MMP system, has resulted in only 72 electorate members and a staggering 51 members who truly could be described as ‘‘the rabble’’ as Dr Hamlin puts it.
If electorate and Parliament can be served by 72 people, why on earth do we need another 51?
Russell Garbutt
Clyde
[Russell Garbutt is a former Vincent Community Board deputy chairman.]
Sparking concern
I read with concern regards the article in ODT (22.12.25) on WorkSafe lifting the ban on inserting a switch circuit or fuse, into the mains power earthing system in New Zealand.
I endorse the electrical inspectors and technicians’ objections as to this likely practice which is not allowed in other countries.
In all my years of working in live installations there was always that confidence in the event of a fault, the earthing installation was there to protect the individual, and can only see now the possibility of a lethal risk for individuals working in live situations if such a switch is inserted .
Jeff Flannery
Oamaru
[Jeff Flannery is a retired electrical service technician.]
Farming practices
Peter Foster's vapid climate change denial tries to marginalise Bruce Mahalski and the DCC (Letters 18.12.25).
We are on their side. What sort of role models are Blackrock & Vanguard (‘‘they own everything’')?
Perhaps Peter welcomes the warming of East Otago for the opportunities offered avocado and berry fruit farms?
Alan Beck
Dunedin
Cultural bonds
Growing up in the 1960s and 1970s I got to see what a time of real change looks like.
There was a thinking about revisiting Thomas Paine and his book that enabled a great revolution in human government 200 years before. We are again at a crossroads for the human species where one side champions common sense, truth, caring and mutual respect and the other delusions, lies, bullying and hate.
Years ago I was part of a thought experiment to counter this growing fracture for New Zealand and the danger of our nation being manipulated from bad actors beyond our shores: the idea of an Anglo-Polynesian society came up where everyone could unite behind the blood and cultural bonds of this former British colony and all of Polynesia and the former empire.
The idea was based on mutual respect and we even made a flag that reflected that. Also, it was noted that the Inca empire had no military as we know it and no money, let alone private equity, and very little pollution or carbon footprints. Yet it thrived based on mutual co-operation.
Any political parties want to take up common sense again as a game plan?
Aaron Nicholson
Manapouri
Spills do not equal thrills
Re Hydro spill offers a photo opportunity (ODT 16.12.25). The lost renewable energy has eventual economic impact because today’s spill is tomorrow’s bill.
The rate of energy loss from combined Pukaki and Tekapo spill on December 16 was about 250MW, which is more than Dunedin’s total electricity use over an average day.
Future stronger westerlies will increase spill. Also, more wind and solar generation will cause higher hydro levels and thus greater spill risk. That is, new wind and solar power will in effect reduce hydro turbine efficiency.
Spill could be significantly reduced if there was a new large energy storage capability, whether that be the Lake Onslow scheme or some other means. Water could then be released from hydro lakes before water levels go too high, with the resulting surplus power diverted to energy storage. For example, used for pumping in the case of the Lake Onslow scheme.
Earl Bardsley
Hamilton
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