Jim Dickenson (The Sunday Examiner, September 30) is too conservative, Launceston needs some high rise pointing up to god and symbolising prosperity.

This will occur over time and I am sure the council will look at each on its merits both for quality and how it will fit into the city scape of the future

As an economic geographer, I know the city motto is “Progress with Prudence”, but maybe in the future less prudence.

The city has to move with the times.

I agree with Mr Dickenson that at the moment most activity takes place at street level, but will it always in the future.

AGAIN we hear politicians wishing children to be begin schooling younger.

There is little evidence that earlier schooling improves educational and economic outcomes.

A recent study by a leader in educational research, Stanford University found children who were enrolled in kindergarten at age six (instead of five) had measurably better scores on tests of self-control by the time they were seven and 11.

Self-control, known as “executive function” is one of the more important traits children can possess in their early years.

A strong degree of executive function signals children are able to budget their time and maintain focus even when they’re faced with distractions.

Executive function forms a vital component of resilience and mental health.

The Stanford study found a one-year delay in the start of school dramatically reduces inattention/hyperactivity a measure of self regulation strongly linked to negative achievement.

They found that this large effect persists as child ages.

Children who started school one year later had 73 per cent better scores on tests of their hyperactivity and inattention with associated better academic performance.

A strong economy depends upon a better educated and resilient workforce and perhaps starting school too soon is counterproductive.

INVASION Day, our national day, celebrating the coming of whites to Australia on the day this country was invaded by the English. January 26 debates continue to haunt the political conscience.

The recent Liberal Party conference agreed that changing the date and restoring place names in lutruwita (Tasmania) with their original name over the imposed English would not change the lives of Aboriginal people. This is true, but it is a much needed step towards reconciliation.

Recognition and promotion of palawa kani, the language of Tasmanian Aborigine and education about its near loss, eventual retrieval and current use by modern Aborigines is a start in understanding and respecting the strength and resilience of Aborigines.

WENT into the city today and love the new look mall. An open feel with those great sculptures. A pleasure to walk there and have a sit, if needed. Well done, love it

FROM one debacle to another as "Yes Sir Minister" takes control.

The proposal to go to a 35 member House of Assembly must also say a 40 per cent salary cut to politicians or do they keep this while offering public servants 2 per cent bearing in mind their immediate inner office are mostly on contracts not the award.

As for the alleged hanky panky of a minister and head of department so what provided they do their jobs, do not double dip on allowances as any real minister would have a quality assurance system in place including themselves.

As for moving to a larger number in the lower house, please why not merge both houses of Tasmanian Parliament into one house, two systems.

The way forward would be by a joint act of both parliaments merge to one then give a percentage vote each say 50 per cent or less to round the vote number to near 35 or be fairer by reducing all politician votes to an equal percentage.

As Legislative seats expire due to retirement, ill-health or expire the seat become void and is to be covered by remaining members of the Legislative members within that House of Assembly boundary with adjustment in percentage to ensure electors still have input.

By the next federal election after 2019 all Legislative seats become vacant and two Legislators will be elected per House of Assembly boundary by a Senate-type vote each time a federal election occurs who then will elect a speaker and deputy speaker to the Tasmanian House of Parliament. The leader of government and deputy leader will be elected by the majority holders of numbers or less accepted by the Governor voted in by the Hare Clarke system as occurs now as will the opposition leader and deputy.

Hence all Tasmanians will have one parliament with two election systems and save millions of dollars.

In time this system by agreement may dissolve into one system however the ploy of safe single electorates could be damming for those in the boon docks as big city single electorates have control.