Once again no mention of the long, long proposed Eastern Bypass, which at one stage was a line in a federal budget.

Who lobbied to have this removed?

In 1976 the Launceston council, the state government and the Federal Bureau of Transport Economics decided on the defacto Eastern Bypass cheapest route: Quarantine Road, Johnston Road, St Leonards Road, Ravenswood Road and Vermont Road, without consulting with any residents, who would be severely impacted by their decision.  

Forty-two years later long-suffering residents along this route have had to put up with ever increasing vehicle numbers, excessive noise, dust in quantities probably above permissible environmental and safe health levels, vibration, increasing carcinogenic vehicle emissions and incremental increase in pavement damage, which exacerbates noise output.

I thank those heavy vehicle drivers who refrain from using engine brakes.

City of Launceston council, cast your eyes east from the CBD.

Dennis Camplin, Ravenswood.

 A LOT of people have issues with live exports - a lot.

But that's not the only example of harshness to animals. The caged egg industry is a perfect example of animal cruelty. 

When animals were first dawned on this earth they were never meant to be in cages. It's us humans who have decided to go and stick them in cages for industry. 

Cages aren’t required to farm eggs. Free range and barn laid eggs exist perfectly happily without the use of cages.

These mean hens can exercise without becoming limp and obese. Our prisoners get more space than these hens and some of them have done some horrific things.

Hens get health defects from living in cages whereas the prisoners live happily ever after with the ability to exercise. 

Coles and Woolworths have ditched supplying home brand caged eggs and charge an affordable price that is cheaper than almost all the caged eggs.

I'd encourage all to buy these eggs. Finally, how hard is it to take hens out of cages and give them exercise?

The answer is: it isn't. 

Collin G. Wood, Newstead.

WE ALL need to work to ensure a good life and this is the truth.

The working class definition is: A social group consisting of people who are employed for wages, especially in manual or industrial work.

Now Australia has decided that “permanent full-time” workers are not needed so all new employees have been hired as “permanent part-time” workers, or at least most of them.

There is not much difference besides hours worked as the benefits are pretty much the same. I wonder if our politicians are part or full time?

Australian workers on average are working fewer hours than ever before as the shift from full-time to part-time work continues and, with it, the rise in underemployment.

In March, Australian workers averaged a mere 34 hours and 40 minutes of work each week. This was just above the record low of 34 hours and 38 minutes set in June last year but is well down on the 35 hours and 14 minutes worked just five years ago:

I recall the saying “working class” being a person that got their fundamental backsides out of bed no matter the time or pay and made a living out of slogging back and forth so that money was made.

I guess farmers and health care professionals are perhaps the only working class that fit that description.

Felicity O'Neill, Deloraine.

SO Tasmania is in line to become the power factory of the nation for energy.

I think the best way to do this is to install a large pipe in the parliamentary chamber and connect it to various wind farms.

There must surely be enough hot air emanating from that august chamber to supply  energy to numerous wind farms.

Glennis Sleurink, Launceston.

HAVING put two children through university so they may take on teaching science and further education at a later time in their lives, I am now completely amazed to see people teaching and overseeing children in district high schools, without what I would call appropriate education and skills qualifications. 

I do not like the present situation at all, where it appears that the local principal alone, decides who works with the children at their school.

I hope none of my grand or great-grandchildren have to attend such a school.

Our children deserve the best guidance possible during their school days, not the cheapest.

Bill Chugg, Campbell Town.

THE University of Tasmania needs a smaller campus at Inveresk due to the increasing number of students studying online. 

The state government could let not for profit organisations utilise a part of the Newnham campus instead.

Leon Cooper, St Leonards.

IT IS great the building at 135-137 St John St is being restored, it being part of a particularly lovely city streetscape. 

It would also be great if more building owners followed suit and renovated their premises.

Together with the revamped malls and squares our city centre then would become a delight to visit, socialise and shop in.

Jim Dickenson, Launceston.