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The Editor,
Bay of Plenty Times. Feb.1st 2018 Dear Sir, It was not funny, in fact absolutely insulting to see Hubbard’s cartoon in 1st Feb paper, where he jokes about the fact that Paula Bennett has had a stomach operation, as do many people these days. Why is she signalled out? and then to have a so called further recommendation that she is sacked by the National Party. What an appalling thing to design a cartoon whatever one’s political persuasion might be, about a capable woman who has leadership potential, and has come from a background where she knows what it is like to be a single Mum on a very limited income. Anyone could admire her background, she got herself educated, and worked, and then into Govt and became a Minister of the Crown. Not good enough for a cartoonist to produce such rubbish about a woman. Margaret Murray-Benge Bethlehem
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I think I would start with something like Simon Bridges deserves our Thanks not our criticism. Not until Simon was appointed have we actually started to catch up after a very long time.
There are 2 types of roads, local that are looked after by our council and the arterials that Simon was responsible for. So the 4 laning of the eastern arterial has given us a very safe, easy route to the Port and city. He has also achieved the overpasses planning and funding at the intersection where the road links to SH29 before Bayfair,shifted the railway so the work could be achieved, and the Welcome Bay underpass. As for SH2 and 29 he has been supportive and has pushed for change brilliantly. Your readers will see change but building roads with so many layers of decision making creats blockages that frustrate all of us. We shall see how good this new Minister is? response to Paul Belcaster’s letter regarding the Tauranga traffic woes, I think he should be aware that Hon Simon Bridges, as transport Minister, is not responsible for the traffic problems of Tauranga. As Minister he is responsible for State Highways, not local roading matters. In spite of this, as Tauranga M.P., he has commenced the construction of the Maungatapu underpass which will greatly assist traffic flow for the Welcome Bay area of Tauranga. One of the biggest problems regarding Tauranga traffic flows, particularly in rush hours, is State Highway 2 between Bethlehem and Katikati. Whilst in government Simon procured the funding for this to be 4 laned, with an improved access road to Omokoroa and the Katikati by pass. Additionally funding was approved for the continuation of the Hamilton expressway, 4 laned from Cambridge to the base of the Kaimais. Unfortunately the new Labour/NZ First/Green government will not commit to these projects and so they may not now proceed. A petition is currently circulating to try to pressure the Government to commit to these projects. Simon has done a tremendous amount for the Tauranga/Western Bay area. For example the Tauranga Eastern link had been “on the drawing board” for over 25 years, it is now a reality and one of the finest roads in the country. Dave Bridgens, Bethlehem. The Editor,
Bay of Plenty Times, 21st Jan 2018 Dear Sir, It is not a walk in the park to put one’s name for election to a Council, and many good people have stood and not made it, women included, and we are 51% of the population. I know every man and woman of any ethnicity is my equal, and I know that if we have Maori Ward or Wards it is telling Maori they are not good enough and not electable. This is a nonsense as we have had Maori representatives in the past and we will again in the future. Just as we have had more really capable women on Western Bay and at the moment we only have one. So, it is a dreadful lie to pretend that Maori are not good enough. The writer obviously does not know our community very well. Imagine locking Maori voters into one or two wards stretching over the extraordinarily vast distances and stopping them from voting for other positions. There are 4 councillors representing the Kaimai Ward, 3 representing Katikati Waihi Beach ward, and 4 representing Te Puke Maketu. No way can the system be designed to keep Maori out and separate. We are all equal. Margaret Murray-Benge Bethlehem |
Margaret Murray-BengeThis is my outlet to speak my mind and provide updates on my Western Bay of Plenty Mayoral Candidacy. Archives
September 2019
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