– Alexander (Sandy) Milne

I RESPOND to two contributors to Wednesday’s Beacon letters columns, the first being Caroline Hamill’s, “Support the Sunday Market”, in which she goes a little over-the-top regarding the “vibrancy” the market brings to our town for four or five hours of the week (on fine days).

I encourage others to visit the market as I do from time to time to have a pleasant time meeting old friends as we amble around the food outlets, supporting small business owners.  

Caroline writes of the great vision council has to improve Mitchell Park “in such practical matters as drainage and lighting to improve this wonderful amenity”. But, hang on, in my October 9 letter, I exposed and dismissed the myth of the drainage problem. Does anybody challenge that?  

I also tut-tutted the thought that ratepayers should fork out over $200,000 for a toilet block at Mitchell Park when I, a 90-year-old Scots-born Kiwi, can walk the 160 metres to the Boon Street loo in a couple of minutes.  

As for the desire for water taps for the strollers to save them from bringing their own bottle, give us ratepayers a break.  

I ran marathons as a Whakatāne harrier until the late 1980s.  Every Sunday, I and 20 or 30 other harriers ran for 20 miles, either on the flat via the Pekatahi Bridge, or on the hills over the Burma Road. We did not carry water bottles or drink from streams.  We planned for the strenuous 180-minute run).  

None of our exercise was subsidised by ratepayers. Would someone please let me know why 2024 residents cannot handle a 90-minute shopping jaunt without watering?

I invite people to remember Mayor Victor Luca and Councillors Andrew Iles and Gavin Dennis voted against the frivolous $436,000 Mitchell Park spend-up, and to remember the names of the eight councillors who appear to be oblivious of the effect of savage rates rises for less wealthy residents.

I remind everyone that many of us are facing tough times and that our local body election is only a year away.

Another letter writer, J Beattie, slags off WAG (Whakatāne Action Group) in his letter, Some oldies support investment in the future.

I am not a member of WAG, but I do not share his views.

Mr Beattie: “When anyone disagrees with WAG, there’s a pile on in the Beacon letters until they give up and shut up.  I’m thankful that Dave Stewart has not been bullied into silence as well.”

Since when was expressing a sensible view classed as bullying?

Mr Beattie: “There’s more than a few of us who are also sick of WAG’s constant grumbling, negativity and disinformation, and who are pleased to see his comments published in the Beacon. It’s Grey Power in drag.”

What a stupid thing to say. I don’t accept the put down of Grey Power, which as far as I know advocates (among other things) in the areas of public health and cost-of-living. It has been relatively silent on the latter, so why beat up on Grey Power?

Mr Beattie: “They’ve enjoyed all the benefits of this wonderful district over the decades but now, in their twilight years, they don’t want anything spent on the next generation.”

The “wonderful district” he refers to was built by oldies ike the members of the WAG. They contributed as much as anyone to what it is that we have. WAG simply wants to ensure that the coming generations are not burdened with costs they can’t pay, and that ratepayer dollars are spent wisely.  After all, our rates rise is already among the highest in the country.

Mr Beattie: “Well, they don’t speak for all of us oldies. Some of us do want to see the council investing in the future.”

True, they don’t speak for all oldies. Mr Beattie and his ilk are entitled to their opinion. Is he suggesting that wastage and unwise spending time after time is okay?

Mr Beattie: “We want to see things that support the next generations, like great sports facilities to keep them busy, economic growth to keep them employed and community initiatives that makes it a more interesting place to live.”

It would be good to support the next generations by not handing on crumbling infrastructure.

In my opinion, WAG is simply re-inforcing what the prime minister and Government have been saying.

Mr Beattie: The district wouldn’t look very interesting if we followed WAG’s advice. We might as well hang a sign that says, “Last one to leave, please turn out the light”.

I instruct friends to turn off my lights if I ever stoop to using such unfair and hackneyed expressions.