All in a day's work he has made thousands of decisions, with some 50,000 pairs of eyes viewing his decisions from 50,000 different angles. Dealing with professional sportsmen pleading with open arms, mouthing off about a free kick.

The man in control has never changed his decision ever, and never will. The composure of umpires, in general, is to be admired.

The man in white is always right a cry from the distant past. The game is becoming a free for all, where a clear vision for umpires in some situations is nigh impossible.

They are bound to make mistakes, his weapon of safety "the ball-up". Mistakes are the life-blood of experience, nobody is free from making a mistake.

Centre bounce to open the game, captains shake hands what do they say?

Then both shake the umpire's hand in turn, and should say "have a good game mate" could that ever happen?

We might even see an umpire grin. An experienced umpire is the cornerstone of an entertaining game. He receives half the salary of the average footballer. He is in a no-win situation, imagine going to work every day knowing you will be verbally abused and have no recourse, you have to cop it sweet.

Players, get onside with the umpire, forget he is there, and don't fumble again.

Hugh Boyd, Prospectvale.

THE state government is proposing to give local councils the option of using the current system of rating AAV (assessed annual value) or use another system CV (capital value).

Their plan is to give councils greater ability to transition from different rating systems.

They seem to think that the latter is the fairer option but it's not popular with most councils. If my house's value is higher or lower than another in the street the three of us pay three different amounts for our rates but we all get the same services as each other. Council services are just the same to ratepayers irrespective of the value of their house or property so how can using any system that uses any form of property valuation be a fairer way of charging how much each and everyone's rates should be.

There is only one system that is just this and that's one rate for all, this could vary if services vary. But one charge for all is fairer.

David Parker, West Launceston.

THE eye-watering multi-billion dollar taxpayer-funded scheme to boost water levels in the Murray-Darling Basin has been described as a rort by water economists during a recent Four Corners program.

As with Turnbull's gift of half a billion dollars to the unknown Barrier Reef Foundation in 2018, the money has been siphoned off, some off to overseas corporations; much to corrupt individuals, in order to line the pockets of the already well-heeled. And who is responsible for this massive and wilful waste of public funds?

Well step up the LNP government. Pausing only to spruik their improbable claims of being the best managers of the nation's economy since the gnomes of Zurich first sat down together, they spend the rest of the time throwing taxpayers' money about as if it were confetti, unconcerned as to where it lands nor whose wallets it fills.

Dave Robinson, Newstead.