Community comments

Dear Editor,

It is obvious that your correspondents putting down Julien Batchelor do not agree with free speech.

I changed over to reusable bags a long time ago, and to be honest I’m surprised it has taken this long for them to get completely taken away.

My family have avoided using plastic bags for quite a while. Anything we can do to reduced the amount of plastics we use, the better.

They say that he is racist, and spouts hate. I attended his earlier meeting and am sure that if the protesters had been allowed in, there would have been no meeting.

His message is that the original signed treaty clearly states that ALL New Zealanders have equal rights and that Queen Victoria insisted on this to protect the natives.

Democracy also demands equal rights. Racist? Hate? The British put an end to the musket wars and some cultural things that our school children are not allowed to know but are taught the horrible things the colonists did.

MARLBOROUGH CRICKET OUTLINES ‘WISH LIST’ AS SPORTS JOSTLE FOR COUNCIL CASH

This is long overdue, hopefully council actually comes up with some action soon!

Tony McKenzie

In many countries freedom of speech is under threat, In NZ and Canada, governments are paying journalists. In Britain there is a growing de-facto law against ‘obscenity’ (Pakistan style). In Denmark, a newspaper has said it will no longer criticise a certain group, ‘violence has won over’.

Yesterday I saw a video of the Canadian Prime Minister speaking to a group and asking police to remove interjectors. He said people should listen and learn from him. The bowling club was not hosting Mr Batchelor but hiring out their rooms. They decided against lawful free speech, which our present law thankfully allows them to do.

John Vile Blenheim

Surely if he shot at the building and caused damage, he should be personally responsible for all costs?

Kate Faith-Pickering

FALCONS LEAVE IT VERY LATE

Great effort guys, a tough proposition and you toppled them - be proud!

It’s a bit of a catch-22 with plenty of items still packaged in single use plastics but at least we have paper replacements that are just as good. Miss my bin liners though.

I moved over to reusable bags like the mesh ones basically as soon as I knew they were an option, so it doesn’t impact me.

Guilty Plea For Police Station Shooting

Sounds like they’re getting a slap on the wrist. Lucky they didn’t get caught smoking a joint or they’d be going to jail. Blenheim police are hopeless, and the Blenheim courts to back them up.

Jamarl Thomson

Malcolm Adams

Half a dozen Picton boys do go to school and play for MBC in various teams. The No8 for yesterday was a Picton boy! Ben Gibbons, a name worth watching!

Bosun Huntley

Project manager at Hydramech, Jamie Hubbard, is great advocate for making a positive career choice early in life in order to create a fulfilling and exciting career in the years ahead.

Beginning as an apprentice plumber in 2008, he worked his way through the stages required to become a certified plumber and gasfitter and is now one of the partners in the Hydramech group which includes Laser Plumbing Blenheim.

The company is one of Marlborough’s leading suppliers of mechan- stainless steel fabrication,” he says. Meanwhile, the Laser Plumbing side of the business has expanded into drain-laying as well.

“It made perfect sense to become a one stop shop for all things to do with plumbing and gas fitting which really benefits our customers.” ical and plumbing services to the ever-growing winery sector locally and throughout New Zealand.

There are always developments taking place in the world of plumbing and the latest home trends Jamie is seeing are the likes of hot water heat pumps and water efficient tapware with built in sensors.

“As the demand for these increases, they have become more affordable,” he says.

“Many companies require detailed engineering expertise to keep at the forefront of innovation and production and we have a number of highly qualified technical staff on the team whose skills are much sought after whether it be in the areas of winery services, waste water services, pumps & filtration, general engineering or process engineering,” says Jamie.

“We are currently in the process of building a brand-new upgraded engineering workshop on site because of the substantial rise in demand for

“Home owners are definitely thinking outside the square and looking at alternative options.

“There is a strong growing trend toward more energy efficiency hot water systems with the effects of inflation hitting people in the back pocket and savings on power costs a priority.”

“So much of the work we do involves large projects completed in fast time frames and it is exciting watching the design process take place and develop into systems and products that fulfil the needs of our customers,” says Jamie.

“I’m very pleased I made the career choice I did.”

Eaton Excavations

With an extensive list of qualifications behind him in the fields of civil earthworks and infrastructure and over twenty-five years of hands-on experience, multi-skilled Kevin Eaton has recently launched his own business, Eaton Excavations Ltd.

No job is too big or small for the company with its up-to-date machinery and top operators able to carry out an array of works including all aspects of vineyard development, drainage, road construction and grading, culvert supply and installation, root raking, inter-row vineyard drainage, gravel delivery and more.

“We strive to work closely with every client to understand their requirements and

Blackwater Contracting

provide the best possible quality results that will stand the test of time,” says Kevin. Eaton Excavations has the following machinery available: Excavators of various sizes, Grader, 8T Vibrating Construction Roller, 4x4 3T Dump Truck to fit down narrow vineyard rows. 4.5T Loader, Truck and Trailer, 3.5 T Car Transporter Trailer, 12,000 Litre Modern Water Cart, Lecia Laser Equipment and Heavy Machinery transporting.

Ph Kevin Eaton on 021 615 105.

VINEYARD DEVELOPMENT | DRAINAGE | ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND GRADING | ROOT RAKING CULVERT SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION | INTER-ROW VINEYARD DRAINAGE | GRAVEL DELIVERY

Middlehurst Station, owned by the Susan and Willie Macdonald, is a rugged high-country 16,550-hectare farm that has gained a reputation for producing premium quality meat products in an ethical and environmentally conscious way.

With the couple’s four adult children actively involved in the business, they have recently brought the passion for what they produce on the land to the new Middlehurst Farm Store in the heart of the Kaikoura township.

Complete with onsite butchery, local customers and those passing through can now purchase in-store the farm’s popular range of meat cuts along with a myriad of other local produce and a