Guns
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FOLLOWING the latest mass killings in Charleston, will the National Rifle Association again advise that had the Pastor been carrying a weapon whilst within a holy place the massacre could have been averted.
— A. CARTER, Mowbray.
Trams
IN regard to the story Tram Museum off the Rails (The Examiner, June 24), anyone who was taught by John Binns at Kings Meadows and Ravenswood high schools would now be wondering what kind of management could possibly find it necessary to lock him off premises.
He would have to be one of the all time great teachers of this city.
— HELEN NELSON, Evandale.
Tassie AFL team
WHEN will Opposition Leader Bryan Green stop ranting about Tasmania getting a team in the AFL?
It will never happen in a state with just half a million population.
At a pinch, maybe half of them that would follow the game.
You are just raking over old boring ground.
Get your mind around something positive.
— DAVID PARKER, West Launceston
Junk mail
IN regards to political junk mail (June 24), I had the same problem with my "no junk mail" being ignored.
I was informed politicians are exempt from the "no junk mail".
— MARIO IEZZI, Kings Meadows.
Pigs may fly
GREAT response to the National Geographic "War on Science" article.
I thought it was ironic that those who believe the Ebola virus may mutate and become airborne are considered cranks, (which they may well be) whilst those who believe that dinosaurs mutated and became airborne are considered rational scientists.
— DAVID GREEN, Greens Beach.
Letters
I AM extremely disappointed, as are others, in your choice to mainly publish letters from the left-wing persuasion, without hardly including right-wing opinions.
Surely as editor of a large regional newspaper, your main duty would be to ensure that anyone who wants to, can have a say, regardless of which political side they favour, as this is the basis of living in a democracy.
Reading only the jaded, predictable belly-aches from the Left makes for dull and dreary times.
Having a much more even spread of opinions would surely make this section of your newspaper much more interesting and stimulating, leaving readers to make up their own minds about the political landscape.
— CARMEN FRELEK, Launceston.
Good samaritans
I WOULD like to express my gratitude to the four or five people who "stopped by the wayside” in Cambridge Street, June 19, to help me, when my exuberant labrador puppy dragged me onto the street chasing bikes.
Also thanks to the lady who took us home.
A different story from the drugs and violence in Launceston.
— J. FULLERTON, Launceston.
Campbell Town
APPROXIMATELY four years ago the state government deemed the Campbell Town Court as surplus to requirements and that the building would be sold.
When that decision was made, Northern Midlands Council was leasing the building for a nominal rent.
Council ended that arrangement in September 2014 and apart from a four month period till the end of April this year the building has been un-occupied with no for sale sign in place.
Neither the government or council have made any effort to maintain the building and now another winter is upon us with windows in the building needing putty and bare weatherboards needing paint.
Regular travellers through Campbell Town have watched the roofing iron become more rusted with some areas actually leaking.
While the government and Tourism Council make grandiose statements on increasing state attractions, may I remind them that Campbell Town is in Tasmania, on the main highway, which so many visitors travel along.
It is time the state and local governments gave the people of Campbell Town the old Court House before it becomes irreparable.
— BILL CHUGG, Campbell Town.
Bullying
MY heart sank when I read of the dispute at the Launceston Tramway Museum that has resulted in 20-year volunteer and workshop manager, John Binns, having a threat of legal action made against him by the committee (The Examiner, June 24), all because he had the courage to try to deal with bullying occurring in that workplace.
A familiar scenario in workplaces and schools.
No wonder people put their heads down and allow what is going on to continue, despite being fully aware of the suffering of the bully's victim/s.
So often it is the person who seeks a resolution to the ill treatment who ends up being made to look like the villain.
Meanwhile the bully, someone who deals with their own issues in life by grinding their axe on others' backs, intimidates their way through life with everyone dancing around them out of fear of being the next target.
Unless we are prepared to tackle this unhealthy dynamic head on, eradication of bullying in workplaces, schools and, dare I say, families, will continue to be a pipe dream.
— JUDY POYNTER, Legana.
Forestry
IT SEEMS that every day somebody has some advice for the government on how best to manage the future of Forestry Tasmania.
Barry Prismall’s editorial based some of his opinion on the fact that Sue Smith, Deputy Chair of the Government Ministerial Advisory Council on Forestry, wanted it sold.
Mrs Smith suggested that privatising Forestry Tasmania would diminish the Greens' influence over the industry.
I believe that privatisation will not appease the Greens desire to close down the timber industry in Tasmania.
In the past, many private businesses have been the subject of anti-industry rallies causing hardship to normal, everyday people.
Mr Prismall seems to think that handing over the management of the state forests to private enterprise for a better economical outcome is the answer.
I believe that this would be an environmental disaster for our state forests as greed can have a great influence on decision making.
Forestry Tasmania has always managed the state forest, not only to try to get an economic return for the state, but with the best interest of the forests in mind.
The timber industry has been through many highs and lows in that time, but none as bad as the low it has been experiencing for the past six or seven years.
Throughout the world they are recognised for their high standards and conservation values.
I believe Resource Minister Paul Harriss is trying to take the politics out of the decision making and would encourage him to help Forestry Tasmania through this difficult time so that it can continue to manage and care for our state forests.
— R. BYE, Launceston.
Cataract Gorge
AFTER months of suggestion about a 'gondola' suspended above the Cataract Gorge, we have, with full force of advertisement, a proposal for a 'Skylift' to travel between the Penny Royal complex and the First Basin.
The proposal still lacks realistic detail, and the promoter would appear to be seeking that dangerous commodity known as 'approval in principle' for a project that must be controversial.
There is much reason for concern about the substantial engineering intrusion into the Zig-zag and Basin Reserves that would be needed to support a cable-car travelling on the line suggested in the advertisement (The Examiner, June 19).
The Gorge is highly accessible to the public and visitors alike, and parts of it can be enjoyed by people in wheelchairs.
It cannot be argued that anyone is seriously deprived of an experience of our most admired city feature.
The 'Skylift' is not socially justifiable; it is a purely commercial enterprise that would damage a public amenity, with physical intrusion into the most natural and accessible parts of the southern side of the Gorge, and visual impairment of the whole feature.
The suggested route protects the privacy of residents on Cataract Hill, but does not protect the amenity and integrity of the Gorge itself.
The pilotis that support the house that is now the most conspicuous intrusion into the scene, built for the operator of the Chairlift, and the pylon planted beside the Zig-zag Track by the HEC, give some impression of the likely effect of supports for a practical 'Skylift'.
Two excellent restaurants with kiosks and the Chairlift should remain the only fixed private enterprises permitted within the public spaces of the Basin and the Gorge.
— ERIC RATCLIFF, Launceston.