Stalls set up
Astarte and Peter Cleave
Folk singing
Paul Walker and Peter Cleave
Meal and speeches
The Show
Peter Cleave MC
Dancing
Arranged by TonyEvans
Kickboxing
Tony Evans
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
puff 106
November 34th Draft Programme
Stalls set up
Astarte and Peter Cleave
Folk singing
Paul Walker and Peter Cleave
Meal and speeches
The Show
Peter Cleave MC
Dancing
Arranged by TonyEvans
Kickboxing
Tony Evans
Stalls set up
Astarte and Peter Cleave
Folk singing
Paul Walker and Peter Cleave
Meal and speeches
The Show
Peter Cleave MC
Dancing
Arranged by TonyEvans
Kickboxing
Tony Evans
puff 105
Wheeler’s CornerÓ
Connecting Citizens Who Care
"Broadcast every Thursday at 11.45am on Access 999AM"
Contact Peter at wheeler@inspire.net.nz
42 2nd November 2006
This Week: 1. Freedom of Speech, [one]: 2. Freedom of speech [Two]: 3. Some unanswered questions: 4. Letter to editor: 5. Freedom of Information: 6. Kind words from my God.
1.
Like Mark Anthony addressing Caesar’s dead body on the steps of the forum Cr. Naylor presented his notice of motion…it was a deeply moving an almost religious plea…for the protection of his sole staff member… This oppressed and poor staff member, who had been forced to take industrial action to protect, himself and maybe even the nation from the mighty pen. Cr. Naylor knew no bounds in his plea for the protection of the poor and the needy. "Friends Romans Countrymen [and the press] lend me your ear for I come here not to praise Caesar but to bury him", oops, sorry I mean to protect him from the pen of one appointed senate member! This revolutionary member who like Cicero uses the pen instead of the sword oppresses the poor and needy. But cried a member of the forum, "He, earns three hundred thousand coins per annum and therefore can’t be considered poor and needy". "Be silent you, least you be accused of failing to protect our staff member whom we have appointed to hire the bulk of Rome’s administrative body cried one councillor Marcus Cr. Gordon Cruden in a most imperial tone. Each councillor speaking in support of the motion stated how they too felt that their selected staff member needed to be strongly supported, else he might refuse to support other vital committees [not that the Awapuni committee was vital]. Then a lone voice was heard to utter, "But what will become of free speech and how do we know that what was said was in fact not within the laws of Rome? "Because I and the mover of this motion said so and our word is law", cried Cr. Wall and we are never ever wrong…[Rome had women senators?] "I move that the question be now put! It matters not that our behaviour is just or fair, right or wrong, but that we just get on with it after all we’ve spent over sixteen thousand coin on this freedom of speech thing". So the leading Consul put the question requested by Cr. Wall and it was defeated which caused much head nodding and eyebrow raising from a dejected Cr. Wall. Later after much chest pounding, toga lifting and love of staff speeches the wayward appointed committee member was cast out to be committed to a rowing seat on the next slave ship to Egypt… And so as Rome switched from being a republic and became an autocratic kingdom the story should be over, but is it?
2.
Freedom of speech at risk… Just as the PNCC seeks to shut down wheeler’s corner by shutting down Wheeler the New Plymouth District council has forced the Taranaki Daily News to take its case to the press council. The Taranaki Daily News has forwarded more than forty complaints from the district council to the press council for adjudication. The complaints follow several months of publicity – in news stories, opinion columns and letters to the editor – about council policies. While the council here in Palmerston North doesn’t make public council complaints concerning the Manawatu Standard or the number of visits it is rumoured that they have made to its editor [s] to give them a table thumping diatribe. Our council hides behind its staff. Negative comment, regardless of its correctness or justification is considered a health and safety problem and where top management condones industrial action rather than adjudication or mediation. But now and then the CEO’s written comment leaks out. This regarding a couple of letters to the editor made the following comments. "The letters are composed of cowardly innuendo" in the same letter he goes on to say that the author should "starts writing letters based on truth and dignity, instead of cheap political manifestos". The CEO made the following comments to councillors about the Manawatu Standard: "You will note that the Standard has regurgitated it almost verbatim. No attempt was made to contact anybody from either the council or Might [y] River. So much for journalistic balance" and on the same issue [Turitea Wind Farm] "It is obvious that the society [NZ Forest and Bird Society] does not intend to let a few facts get in the way of a good story".
Now as strange as it may sound, I support the CEO’s right to free speech. Being an ex-service man I am fully aware of the brave lives lost in defending the right to free speech but I am also aware that many died in the name of justice and human rights. To call someone a coward when that person simply wrote a letter to the press, which published it in good faith is to attack the very essence of freedom of speech. I of course have been attacked by the council for publishing other people’s opinion, yet that opinion had already been expressed at a ward meeting and directly to the CEO, the Mayor, the media etc. My version of freedom of speech differs from the councils’ and that’s for sure!
Some Questions:
Why did councillors agree to a $40.000 dollar plus increase for the CEO?
Is it true that last year frontline staff had their salaries reduced as part of a restructuring or re-grading of their positions some by up to $4000,?
Is it true that it was pressure from the Awapuni Ward that saw the lease for the local tennis club approved and the sale of the Bowling club land put on the back burner.
Why was the agreement to be able to sell the land [Bowling Club] sometime in the future agreed in secret before a zone change?
Why did the CEO write to a well known citizen suggesting he was some other person of the same name and what was wrong with the letter [s] to the editor and is this normal staff behaviour?
Is it true that Cr. Gordon Cruden now represents Fitzherbert rather than Hokowhitu?
Why are outcomes from the Chief Executive’s Performance Committee kept from the public? Has the committee decided on another big lift in salary?
Why has the path leading from Buick Crescent to the park still not been up-graded as instructed by council, so elderly citizens can use it? Will it ever be done?
Will Takaro ever have a forum?
4. Letter to the editor. [Abridged]
How many road-monitoring devices were laid in Dittmer Drive for the Road Planning Department to monitor the traffic in Dittmer Drive?
Where in Dittmer Drive were they placed (house numbers will do)?
How long were they there for?
I ask these questions as road monitoring devises were recently placed in Dittmer Drive at two places, in the middle of the chicane by Awatapu School and by the entrance to Ruha Street, low speed areas I believe. The devises were in Dittmer Drive for about two days on a Tuesday and Wednesday, low traffic days I believe. I also ask this questions, if, after post construction surveys, the Road Planning Team decide to construction speed humps across the three existing chicanes, does that mean that the residents of Dittmer Drive were right all along in saying that speed humps were the correct option for Dittmer Drive?
Another questions I would like answered is when Horizon’s carry out the last of the flood bank protection scheme along Dittmer Drive? How will the contractors be able to use their carefully safety designed and prepared road from the road to the river’s edge, when the middle chicane is in the way? More money spent on repairing one part of the fence and rebuilding a track from road to river? Probably, that particular point of the stop bank along Dittmer Drive is the steepest part. I will pass the word around for Awapuni residents to contact Jono Naylor with all their queries, as he obviously has time to handle residents queries.
To Councillors who have not supported Jono Naylor, I would ask you to seriously consider how you will vote on this motion. Whether you believe in democracy that someone voted on to the Awapuni Ward Committee, not once but three times in one Council term, should stay on that committee. Or whether councillors with no interest in the Awapuni Ward whatsoever, should be able to exclude the Awapuni people’s choice till the next Council elections. Val Wilkinson14 Dittmer Drive Palmerston North 06 3572792
6.
On the very night of my expulsion we had yet another example of power over information. Cr. Kelly one of the more progressive councillors sought information via the freedom of information act back in January 06. Mr. Wylie [staff] said no, but that he could go to the Ombudsman to have the decision reviewed if he wished [That was kind of him don’t you think!]. He did and the Ombudsman agreed with Cr. Kelly but Mr. Wylie [staff] still has not done so nine months later… Cr. Kelly again requested information in the same manner regarding the Turitea Farm debate but yet again received the same response from Mr. Wylie [staff member]. No wonder councillors make decisions in the dark. It should not be forgotten that this staff member was one that councillor and mayor wannabe Naylor sought protection for from an appointed ward member. I’d say it’s the other-way-round. [See Manawatu Standard Tuesday 31st October 06] and if the staff member involved can act like this to an elected councillor and committee chairperson just imagine what could happen to an non-elected citizen who seeks information…
5.
The Roman analogy was fine, my God informed me, but she pointed out to me to stop worrying about this issue, it’s not a big deal as many Caesar’s came and went. Claudius came after Nero for example. I take her point and I’m sure the citizens will win in the end. She agreed and smiled kindly at her wayward son…
Peter J Wheeler
Wheeler@inspire.net.nz
I would like to thank those who have donated to Wheeler’s Corner, while I don’t know whom you are your assistance is humbly accepted and highly valued. Thank you. If any one else would like to donate the address is Wheeler’s Corner Access Triple Nine PO Box 4666 Palmerston North.
Connecting Citizens Who Care
"Broadcast every Thursday at 11.45am on Access 999AM"
Contact Peter at wheeler@inspire.net.nz
42 2nd November 2006
This Week: 1. Freedom of Speech, [one]: 2. Freedom of speech [Two]: 3. Some unanswered questions: 4. Letter to editor: 5. Freedom of Information: 6. Kind words from my God.
1.
Like Mark Anthony addressing Caesar’s dead body on the steps of the forum Cr. Naylor presented his notice of motion…it was a deeply moving an almost religious plea…for the protection of his sole staff member… This oppressed and poor staff member, who had been forced to take industrial action to protect, himself and maybe even the nation from the mighty pen. Cr. Naylor knew no bounds in his plea for the protection of the poor and the needy. "Friends Romans Countrymen [and the press] lend me your ear for I come here not to praise Caesar but to bury him", oops, sorry I mean to protect him from the pen of one appointed senate member! This revolutionary member who like Cicero uses the pen instead of the sword oppresses the poor and needy. But cried a member of the forum, "He, earns three hundred thousand coins per annum and therefore can’t be considered poor and needy". "Be silent you, least you be accused of failing to protect our staff member whom we have appointed to hire the bulk of Rome’s administrative body cried one councillor Marcus Cr. Gordon Cruden in a most imperial tone. Each councillor speaking in support of the motion stated how they too felt that their selected staff member needed to be strongly supported, else he might refuse to support other vital committees [not that the Awapuni committee was vital]. Then a lone voice was heard to utter, "But what will become of free speech and how do we know that what was said was in fact not within the laws of Rome? "Because I and the mover of this motion said so and our word is law", cried Cr. Wall and we are never ever wrong…[Rome had women senators?] "I move that the question be now put! It matters not that our behaviour is just or fair, right or wrong, but that we just get on with it after all we’ve spent over sixteen thousand coin on this freedom of speech thing". So the leading Consul put the question requested by Cr. Wall and it was defeated which caused much head nodding and eyebrow raising from a dejected Cr. Wall. Later after much chest pounding, toga lifting and love of staff speeches the wayward appointed committee member was cast out to be committed to a rowing seat on the next slave ship to Egypt… And so as Rome switched from being a republic and became an autocratic kingdom the story should be over, but is it?
2.
Freedom of speech at risk… Just as the PNCC seeks to shut down wheeler’s corner by shutting down Wheeler the New Plymouth District council has forced the Taranaki Daily News to take its case to the press council. The Taranaki Daily News has forwarded more than forty complaints from the district council to the press council for adjudication. The complaints follow several months of publicity – in news stories, opinion columns and letters to the editor – about council policies. While the council here in Palmerston North doesn’t make public council complaints concerning the Manawatu Standard or the number of visits it is rumoured that they have made to its editor [s] to give them a table thumping diatribe. Our council hides behind its staff. Negative comment, regardless of its correctness or justification is considered a health and safety problem and where top management condones industrial action rather than adjudication or mediation. But now and then the CEO’s written comment leaks out. This regarding a couple of letters to the editor made the following comments. "The letters are composed of cowardly innuendo" in the same letter he goes on to say that the author should "starts writing letters based on truth and dignity, instead of cheap political manifestos". The CEO made the following comments to councillors about the Manawatu Standard: "You will note that the Standard has regurgitated it almost verbatim. No attempt was made to contact anybody from either the council or Might [y] River. So much for journalistic balance" and on the same issue [Turitea Wind Farm] "It is obvious that the society [NZ Forest and Bird Society] does not intend to let a few facts get in the way of a good story".
Now as strange as it may sound, I support the CEO’s right to free speech. Being an ex-service man I am fully aware of the brave lives lost in defending the right to free speech but I am also aware that many died in the name of justice and human rights. To call someone a coward when that person simply wrote a letter to the press, which published it in good faith is to attack the very essence of freedom of speech. I of course have been attacked by the council for publishing other people’s opinion, yet that opinion had already been expressed at a ward meeting and directly to the CEO, the Mayor, the media etc. My version of freedom of speech differs from the councils’ and that’s for sure!
Some Questions:
Why did councillors agree to a $40.000 dollar plus increase for the CEO?
Is it true that last year frontline staff had their salaries reduced as part of a restructuring or re-grading of their positions some by up to $4000,?
Is it true that it was pressure from the Awapuni Ward that saw the lease for the local tennis club approved and the sale of the Bowling club land put on the back burner.
Why was the agreement to be able to sell the land [Bowling Club] sometime in the future agreed in secret before a zone change?
Why did the CEO write to a well known citizen suggesting he was some other person of the same name and what was wrong with the letter [s] to the editor and is this normal staff behaviour?
Is it true that Cr. Gordon Cruden now represents Fitzherbert rather than Hokowhitu?
Why are outcomes from the Chief Executive’s Performance Committee kept from the public? Has the committee decided on another big lift in salary?
Why has the path leading from Buick Crescent to the park still not been up-graded as instructed by council, so elderly citizens can use it? Will it ever be done?
Will Takaro ever have a forum?
4. Letter to the editor. [Abridged]
How many road-monitoring devices were laid in Dittmer Drive for the Road Planning Department to monitor the traffic in Dittmer Drive?
Where in Dittmer Drive were they placed (house numbers will do)?
How long were they there for?
I ask these questions as road monitoring devises were recently placed in Dittmer Drive at two places, in the middle of the chicane by Awatapu School and by the entrance to Ruha Street, low speed areas I believe. The devises were in Dittmer Drive for about two days on a Tuesday and Wednesday, low traffic days I believe. I also ask this questions, if, after post construction surveys, the Road Planning Team decide to construction speed humps across the three existing chicanes, does that mean that the residents of Dittmer Drive were right all along in saying that speed humps were the correct option for Dittmer Drive?
Another questions I would like answered is when Horizon’s carry out the last of the flood bank protection scheme along Dittmer Drive? How will the contractors be able to use their carefully safety designed and prepared road from the road to the river’s edge, when the middle chicane is in the way? More money spent on repairing one part of the fence and rebuilding a track from road to river? Probably, that particular point of the stop bank along Dittmer Drive is the steepest part. I will pass the word around for Awapuni residents to contact Jono Naylor with all their queries, as he obviously has time to handle residents queries.
To Councillors who have not supported Jono Naylor, I would ask you to seriously consider how you will vote on this motion. Whether you believe in democracy that someone voted on to the Awapuni Ward Committee, not once but three times in one Council term, should stay on that committee. Or whether councillors with no interest in the Awapuni Ward whatsoever, should be able to exclude the Awapuni people’s choice till the next Council elections. Val Wilkinson14 Dittmer Drive Palmerston North 06 3572792
6.
On the very night of my expulsion we had yet another example of power over information. Cr. Kelly one of the more progressive councillors sought information via the freedom of information act back in January 06. Mr. Wylie [staff] said no, but that he could go to the Ombudsman to have the decision reviewed if he wished [That was kind of him don’t you think!]. He did and the Ombudsman agreed with Cr. Kelly but Mr. Wylie [staff] still has not done so nine months later… Cr. Kelly again requested information in the same manner regarding the Turitea Farm debate but yet again received the same response from Mr. Wylie [staff member]. No wonder councillors make decisions in the dark. It should not be forgotten that this staff member was one that councillor and mayor wannabe Naylor sought protection for from an appointed ward member. I’d say it’s the other-way-round. [See Manawatu Standard Tuesday 31st October 06] and if the staff member involved can act like this to an elected councillor and committee chairperson just imagine what could happen to an non-elected citizen who seeks information…
5.
The Roman analogy was fine, my God informed me, but she pointed out to me to stop worrying about this issue, it’s not a big deal as many Caesar’s came and went. Claudius came after Nero for example. I take her point and I’m sure the citizens will win in the end. She agreed and smiled kindly at her wayward son…
Peter J Wheeler
Wheeler@inspire.net.nz
I would like to thank those who have donated to Wheeler’s Corner, while I don’t know whom you are your assistance is humbly accepted and highly valued. Thank you. If any one else would like to donate the address is Wheeler’s Corner Access Triple Nine PO Box 4666 Palmerston North.
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