Donald Trump could pull the trigger anytime without fear of hitting anything other than the animal trip hazards.

I noticed the other day that common sense has prevailed when it comes to allowing Coffee Republic to have seats outside their business. When the mall was completed this was not allowed.

Something needs to be done to make the mall worth visiting and maybe the little animals could be raised above feet level, rather as they are in Civic Square.

That would break up the unimaginative vista and maybe stop skate boarders heading towards pedestrians.

Whatever the council does it surely has to be an improvement to this bland, uninviting space, the cost of which could have provided many houses for the homeless.

Glennis Sleurink, Launceston.

I WOULD like to publicly thank Kerry Finch MLC for his years of service as the Independent Member for Rosevears and wish him well in his retirement. This man deserves a medal.

Mr Finch was fiercely independent and absolutely free from any party political pressures. He really believed the Legislative Council was a house of review and would weigh up the arguments and consult with his constituents before making his mind up on all matters.

Former news anchor Jo Palmer is set to stand for the seat of Rosevears. Ms Palmer was a wonderful news presenter, nobody can argue with that, but she is standing as a Liberal candidate and immediately there goes the independence we have valued for so long.

Ms Palmer says she is more aligned with the Liberal's ideas - this is even before she has seen legislation in front of her.

Ms Palmer said she it was time to leave television to spend more time with her family so what sort of representation can we expect when elected politicians are quitting for this very same reason?

Clive Stott, Grindelwald.

CELESTE Barber's personal plea for donations for the fire relief is tied up.

Why is this? We the Australian people donated many millions of dollars to this fund. Why is it not being distributed?

Don Davey, Launceston.

MY wife and I live in Westbury, very close to the site of the new proposed Northern Prison and we have looked into the effect the prison may have on us and the residents of Westbury.

The Justice Department website refers to a socio-economic assessment prepared by BBC Consulting to report on the effect of a prison on the township of Kempsey in NSW.

This report on page 60 says that the median house prices in Kempsey rose from $298,936 in 2011 to $307,414 in 2016 and that this "illustrates an increase of 15.1 per cent".

A simple calculation shows that the increase is actually 2.84 per cent.

This is significantly lower than the CPI for the period of 10.35 per cent (ABS). So instead of the conclusion "the location of the prison has a negligible effect on property prices" a more accurate conclusion would be "houses in the Kempsey 14 kilometres from the prison have suffered a significant real decrease in housing prices of about 7.55 per cent".

This is a salutary lesson for any township within 14 kilometres of the proposed prison site such as Westbury, Hagley, Carrick and Deloraine.

Philip Leith and Dinah FitzGerald, Westbury.

PERHAPS the drivers of black or dark coloured vehicles can explain why they choose to drive at night with no lights.

What purpose does it serve to put themselves and others at risk?

Davis Seecamp, Trevallyn.

Political Scientist Professor Richard Kerr praises MLC Mike Gaffney for his bill on euthanasia to support the choice on dying (The Examiner, February 11).

And without question I wholeheartedly support Mr Mike Gaffneys' pursuits.

No person who has not witnessed a terminal ill death, in agony should have any say in it at all.

Believe me it is soul destroying, I watched my brother terminally ill with cancer, desperately struggle to get what we all take for granted air.

And died in agony.

We show more concerns for our animals by putting them down when they are terminally ill.

My Christian friends I know you have love in your hearts, but God never wanted us to suffer when we have the technology to diagnose and offer a peaceful end and praises us for our ingenuity.

Palliative care is not the answer, the neverending pain needs to cease giving dignity to death.

Under strict conditions two senior doctors and a specialist on the specific condition of the patient could assess and recommend the procedure if deemed necessary, freeing it from the illegal tag it now carries.

When all avenues have been exhausted and the diagnosis is eminent death in pain, we should make euthanasia an legitimate request without question.

May love, compassion, commonsense, understanding and success be your reward Mr Gaffney.

Peter Doddy, Trevallyn.