Let us all work so we can all pay our taxes

The report on retirement policy (ODT 3.4.25), highlighting an ageing population and the unaffordability of our current pension scheme is scary, but completely misses the wider picture.

We are currently in the middle of a second industrial revolution and AI is displacing workers at an unprecedented rate.

But the economy is not getting smaller - the money is still there, the corporations are still in business, but in the name of ‘‘efficiency’’ jobs are being replaced by technology.

But without jobs there is no income and without income there can be no income tax.

If we build a society where most do not have a decent income then we cannot usefully tax those people.

We have no option but to abandon the income tax system and apply taxes to the money flow - to the corporations. Otherwise the system will collapse.

Or, we could actively pursue a society of full employment and decent wages for all. And then the income tax system works perfectly well.

Tony Williams Dunedin

Spiteful fast bowling

Glenn Turner's comparison (ODT 9.4.25) of a hateful racist remark of decades ago and Dr Hamlin's comments about the karakia should have been allowed to go through to the keeper.

A better comparison would have been to compare a vicious bouncer to a gentle googly.

Like the bouncer, the racist remark should be allowed to pass into oblivion, and like the googly Dr Hamlin's comments should be given thoughtful respect.

It is also worth noting that knee-jerk, like bouncers, although often spectacular, are also often just destructive.

Brendan Murphy Ravensbourne

Don’t scrap art

I am astounded and appalled that the university should stoop to Hitleresque measures regarding the John Middleditch sculptures, gifted to it to mark its 100th year.

Burn, melt down, get rid of anything that could be linked to the behaviour of an artist, writer, teacher, politician or member of society. This will not remedy the harm done and could lead to more Luddite-like behaviour in society.

Universities used to be places of learning, tolerance and values. A flawed individual may be a good artist. What he makes need not be bad art. Are we going to scourge galleries and museums because we abhor the maker's behaviour?

Gillian Pope Dunedin

[Gillian Pope is a Dunedin artist and former president of the Otago Art Society. - Editor.]

Park praised

Last week I had the opportunity to visit the new children’s playground at Caroline Bay. I was very impressed with the outstanding playground which catered for children of all ages. The way the wading pool has been improved is also excellent. I hope the council will be able to create something similar at Woodhaugh and that the new playground will be delivered soon.

Jayne Downes Kenmure

Heard keeping low profile

I am touched that Brian Chalmers (Letters ODT 8.4.24) thinks I would be the best person to lead an expedition to Heard Island to warn its residents of Trump’s tariffs. But the albatross intel network is already on to it and I believe that the date of winter mass migration from the island has been brought forward and its machinery and electrical factories, the focus of the tariffs, are being mothballed.

Philip Temple Dunedin

Sentinel events as wagons deliver the goods

Re the article (14.4.25) showing the Sentinel Steam Wagon on its way to the Wheels at Wānaka.

There were very few Sentinels like it imported here: I researched the only one I know of, and included it in a booklet that I published.

MacBeath Brothers of Waimate used it for general cartage. It was a 1924 Super Sentinel, the same as the one in the photo (see above right).

The booklet is available from thenotebook@xtra.co.nz.

Robin I. Thompson Timaru

An expert view or instead call the consultant

It seems government organisations, local or regional councils or any entity that is answerable to the public is critically lacking in expertise and intestinal fortitude.

I always assumed that people who end up running said organisations were either voted in or appointed on the belief they have the requisite skills to do the job. A noun that I am now treating with disdain seems to arise again and again, i.e. consultant. The latest being KiwiRail spending $8 million on these charlatans.

If you don’t have the skills, find someone who does, if you are scared of making the hard decisions for fear of rebuke, you shouldn’t be there. It seems these days the default option from all these entities is ‘‘consultant advice we have been given indicates... ’’.

How many tens, if not hundreds of millions of dollars have been wasted here? I would almost prefer the government set up an independent panel of 6-8 experts, pay them well and any expert consultation that needs to be made by any councils of government entities goes through this panel. Sadly finding people for such a panel who are not politically aligned is probably impossible these days. Any ideas?

Graham Bulman Roslyn

For the grandkids

In response to Peter Foster (Letters ODT 7.4.25), as Sir David Attenborough said: ‘‘How could I look my grandchildren in the eye and say I knew what was happening to the world but I did absolutely nothing?’’

We know our carbon footprint per capita as a relatively wealthy nation is one of the highest in the world. We can painlessly reduce our emissions by less flying, using public transport, changing our dietary and consumer habits, regenerate native forests, buy local. The list is huge.

I want my grandchildren to know I have done my best for their future and future of our amazing environment and biodiversity. Blaming others for inaction is a (Paris) cop-out.

Claire Coveney Opawa

Address Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin. Email: editor@odt.co.nz