Feds advise voters

Odd, it seems to me, that the Federated Farmers has been given/have taken the prime Opinion spot in the Southland Times to give advice to Southland voters regarding the up-coming elections.
What a convenient platform for them, through Rod Pemberton, Federated Farmers Southland president, to espouse their farmer-friendly views!
Mr Pemberton devotes some of his article to praising the Government for their dismissal of Ecan and warns that other regional councils should consider that action carefully. He also warns councils that rural ratepayers money is not 'an endless supply of money to fund councils dreams'.
He says:
" Councillors need to remember that they are there to represent their constituents through leading efficient organisations that focus on deliverables rather than appearence, a council that is focused on fact, not emotion."

He tidies up his stern warning to voters and candidates alike by saying,
"It's so important that we ensure Southland is represented by the right people ..."
I did laugh.

Local body elections blog

bsprout has started up a blog that will follow the progress of the local body elections here in Southland and will included questionaires sent out to all candidates. Those responses will  published on-line as they come in. I think it's a great idea and bsprout's just the blogger to do a fair job drawing out from candidates what it is they think they are doing, putting their hand up for the various positions.
Click here to visit Local Bodies.

Western Star responds

(See if you can make sense of the editor's add-on)

The Artist writes " re: chopping down of driftwood sculpture in our estuary. I would like to thank the person responsible, for they have opened a whole new world of possibilities which you will see in good time. Thank you again for your random acked of vandalism.
Wayne of the hill.
[Environment Southland advises consents would have been required. No consents were applied for, therefore no consents were granted. Ed]

Express lampoonage

To the Editor

Phil McCarthy (In My Opinion) has a good laugh at the expense of 'C-grade' political candidates for the coming local body elections, calling them 'feverish' and describing how they will clamber for our attention, try to drum up interest through the newspapers and blogs and he's right, they will!
I will too, as I am one of the candidates Phil lampoons.
My blog http://robertguyton.blogspot.com has been up and running for a long time and it is, I like to think, widely read and interesting.
I'm looking for newspaper exposure too and here it is!
Thanks Phil.

Robert Guyton
Candidate for Environment Southland