Letters the Editor: We could turn the Avondale Racecourse into a key sporting hub for Auckland

Infrastructure squabbling

The sooner both major parties stop squabbling over who does infrastructure projects better than the other, the sooner we might actually get something finished on time and under budget.

John Ford, Taradale.

Swan song

Black swans in St Heliers and Kohimarama beaches are a delight to many and a concern to others.

These large black birds are numerous and heavy,

When in large groups they are described as a bevy;

Their common colours are black and pure white,

Singly or grouped they are an appealing sight;

They have started gathering at a local beach,

Swimming right up to within easy reach;

Kate Johns feeds them daily and serious money spends,

Their increasing numbers is clearly what she intends;

But others like these birds a great deal less,

Their unwelcome droppings leave a mess;

Their meat is delicious according to Fish and Game,

They’d prefer to shoot them whenever they came;

With retracted necks they resemble buoys,

Heads aloft – unmatched grace and poise;

The two-bay bevy of black swans is growing,

On harbour vistas great beauty bestowing;

So when next you travel round the bays,

Stop not to shoot but at their beauty gaze.

David Hopkins, Remuera.

A plan for youth

Thank you, Cecilia Robinson, for your Opinion article in Saturday’s Herald (July 11) regarding Sweden’s approach to youth work.

To sum up, it endorses training youth at a young age to engage with work experience.

Some of our politicians do not learn from history, nor from other countries’ examples, and they are, in my opinion, responsible for our high youth unemployment rate.

When I left school, we had youth rates which meant many businesses could afford to employ youngsters as they were relatively affordable.

Today, some youth go to universities and pay for their education.

If we were able to employ youngsters on “youth rates” of say $12.50 per hour instead of $25.50 per hour, you could say youth would pay for some of their training, just like those going to university.

Boy racing, drugs, alcohol and other such activities would rapidly decline as youth would not have the money to spend on them, just as we did not have the cash to spend on such activities many years ago.

Today’s youth would arrive at 21 with lots of training behind them, understanding about how businesses work, the expectations of their role in business, and dealing with older people whom they listen to (instead of your parents who know nothing).

What all of us older people do know is, that most of us arrived at 21 with nothing, as we spent all our wages as we were growing up with few plans for the future.

Sadly, many politicians would rather let youth walk around the streets getting into trouble as they have priced themselves out of the workforce, and it’s not their fault.

I would employ four youth tomorrow if youth rates were brought back, as I want to give back to New Zealand and help youth and so do many of my friends.

Tom Reynolds, St Heliers.

Pre-election visit

I wonder if, had this year not been an election year, would our Prime Minister have invited Narendra Modi to a “meeting”, ostensibly about the FTA signed with India (which, as is well documented, doesn’t actually attract all the benefits for New Zealand we are led to believe).

This alleged meeting looked to me, and no doubt many others, like a pre-election pep talk to a part of National’s fan base. Nothing more or less.

In one day, out the next. I also wonder how many taxpayer dollars went into this promotion.

Jeremy Coleman, Hillpark.

Flying visit

It seems a wasted economic opportunity for the Indian Prime Minister to spend only a whirlwind 24 hours, drive from the airport to the CBD and return, when even Charles and Camilla stay longer. Or were his security costs more expensive than those of unhappy Harry?

Bruce Tubb, Ngataringa Bay Marine Reserve.