Salmon slaps Collie

Bluegreen Guy Salmon served ex-ES chairman Stuart Collie a plateful of stropping at the Wetlands Symposium yesterday, blaming him for the state of the Waituna Lagoon. "Inaction", was the charge, and having the attitude of not wanting to have rules impressed on farmers. Collie denies it, in today's Southland Times, but there are few if any who will accept his innocent plea. The council that Colllie headed copped the same flack and there are those on the present Council who will be keeping their heads down over Salmon's charges. Ali Timms backs her former boss, but makes a mistake in doing so, in my opinion. Coming clean, making a break from the mistakes of the past and getting on with the job of providing protection for the environment is my recommendation. Councillors should view the strident anti-rule 'presentations' by Federated Farmers and Don Nicolson in the ES boardroom yesterday bearing Mr Salmon's charges in mind. A 'Collie-style' response isn't going to be acceptable to anyone bar a select, self-interested few.