Show me an ethical leader. Wheelers Corner 07 09 February 2019

Which one would you trust?

American Presidents come and go or are bumped off from time to time...George Washington said "I can-not tell a lie", that of course was incorrect he was proven to have lied heaps of times...

Richard Nixon...in the end had to resign because he simply couldn't tell the truth...so rather than be given the chop he departed the scene...before they could jail him...

But now days the US has a simple minded President who simply can't tell truth from fiction...or reallity from actual real life honesty. "I can not tell the difference" Donald Trump

But all countries at some time or other have had big time liars as leaders...but not many are as brazen as Trump...he is so bad that the great majority of advisors appointed by him have ended up having to resign, or are sacked by him...or heading toward jail-time.

“Anyway here in Palmerston North there has been exceptional public movement toward cleaning up our social interactions toward creating the change climate, required to strengthen our very slack connections between our elected leadership and those who vote for them.
It's Our Future Manawatu is a highly active group of individuals who look carefully at what is happening here in the Manawatu and Palmerston North in particular.  Then together with other interested parties created an effective social movement locally called PAM: Peace Action Manawatu and mobilised in opposition to the Council backed NZ Defence Industry forum that was held in 2018. This cost the rate payers tens of thousands and tax-payers hundreds of thousands so that a bunch of overseas backed weapon makers could show off their hardware to our Military and other overseas parties interested in supporting military interventions using super high priced military hardware, such as bombs, long range targeting devices, and other combat style equipment.

Our Mayor agreed to review the consent process used to grant the NZ Defence Industry Association use of our Council owned facilities. A special [so-called] Councillor workshop has been planned for 18 March 2019 to carry out this task without public access or consultation...why it is being kept secret is unknown.
But the stupid aspect is that it would appear the Mayor has already told the NZ Defence Industry Association that the date planned for 2019, 29-31 October, is all (provisionally?) OK...this of course proves how hollow what the Mayor told the councillors about the up-coming closed door workshop...it is without doubt simply another Toyota style bit of clap trap...we know the Mayor just loves Toyota and Tin Soldiers...So IOFM is calling together again its PAM community groups and their supporters to come together and create a force to be reckoned with

Extinction Revolution Manawatu last Friday.

This PAM grouping brings together all those various community groups that take a keen interest in activities around, War and Peace, Climate Change activities, local democracy and ethical behaviour. 

The coaliction has close connections to various church groups, Catholic, Anglican, and peace activists for example the Quaker movement, plus connections to the local immigration support organisation. 

The bulk of these hard working and community minded groups are made of individuals who have a great interest in peace rather than war, in prevention rather than continuing the damage being done by greedy individuals. 

The latest group to join, the social net work scene via PAM is "Extinction Revolution Manawatu" and we at the IOFM welcome them with open arms but more importantly with open minds as we all seek the ways and means of correcting past errors. 

2.Stopping the ROT...

Mayor [Toyota] Grant Smith [begs, seeks] forgiveness for past poor ethical behaviour. 
Just as Donald Trump has been forced to resort to verbal trickery during his State of the Nation address...our wee imitation Donald has now resorted to word manipulation in an attempt to talk his way out of past mistakes. Go to the reference below and have a read:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/110451106/grant-smith-says-register-of-behindcloseddoor-council-decisions-will-be-set-up 

Smith said:
"He said there was no doubt the $391,000 grant had been important in convincing Toyota's foreign investors to consolidate in Palmerston North and close an experimental distribution warehouse in Auckland".  But he never offered any REAL evidence that this statement was correct!

"Smith said it was essential councillors held their discussions about sensitive commercial negotiations in private, but it needed to do better with letting the public know the outcome of those decisions". But yet again he never produced any actual evidence of the sensitivity of the Toyota gift or its relationship to other organisations for example Ford or any other motor company...

"A register of decisions made behind closed doors needed to be set up and reviewed regularly, he said". Yet again he offers excuses after the event...review doesn't mean change...this style of procrastination has always been a tool of local government as a means to justify bum choices, Smith is well practiced in the art of procrastination. He used that technique when he weirdly suggested that a Catering company was the main sponser for the 1918 NZ Defence Industry Association's forum. The Catering company was a minor player...as we all now know!

ark

A registrar does nothing. It still enables councillors to make decisions in secret & therefore they are not transparent. Mr Smith who last week said he was going to say no more about the secret grant, is happy to say more when he can't be questioned. If there was no doubt the grant had convinced Toyota to stay he should be happy to release all the meeting details to the public.

A registrar does nothing. It still enables councillors to make decisions in secret & therefore they are not transparent. Mr Smith who last week said he was going to say no more about the secret grant, is happy to say more when he can't be questioned. If there was no doubt the grant had convinced Toyota to stay he should be happy to release all the meeting details to the public.

3.  

Did you know that the CEO of MCH is possibly the highest paid public servant in the Manawatu...the tax payers are paying her almost five hundred thousand dollars per year...after reading the reference below you may feel just a little angry at the level of remuneration we pay a 'so called Manager' so we allow her and her government appointed board members can cut funding to a community group that actually assists those in need.  And I believe you have every right to be angry...
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/110396565/anger-and-dismay-about-threat-to-womens-health-service 

Here is a list of the Chairperson and board members of the MCDHB;
A profile statement of each member is provided and can be accessed by clicking on the members' name. 

Chairman
Dot McKinnon (appointed member)

Board Members
Diane Anderson (elected member)
Adrian Broad (elected member)*

Barbara Cameron (appointed member)
Ann Chapman (elected member)
Brendan Duffy (appointed member)*

Michael Feyen (elected member)*
Nadarajah (Mano) Manoharan  (elected member)
Karen Naylor (elected member)*

Oriana Paewai (appointed member)
Barbara Robson  (elected member)

Those with a * are serving or past councillors who seem to enjoy adding to their council income with MCHB income: if each of the people turned down their MCHB income...there would be no need to cut funding to the Women's health clinic...

So as a quick answer the CEO could agree to a 50.000 dollar salary cut, Duffy and Naylor could resign and not be replaced and Feyen and Broad could both resign...and not be replaced and no one would notice...but don't hold your breath...

So this is simply yet another aspect of community behaviour the IOFM will take an interest in:

Dr. Fred Hirst coordinator with IOFM.

Hi Peter,

This is certainly something for IOFM to oppose!!

 A Councillor is proposing writing to relevant PMs plus deputation at DHB meeting later this month. I'll send out more details but presume you will comment strongly in your blog.

Cheers, Fred

Thanks Fred and IOFM I'll do my best....cheers Peter W

 

    

 

Wheelers Corner Mondays 4 pm...

Wheelers Corner 06 2nd February 2019 Trump Jones Norman and ethics

Is it true that Trump has given up on ending the never ending war with North Korea, given up on Iraq and Afghanistan that led the the deaths of millions and is now instead about to invade Venezuela...Oh he is brave...is our wee Donald.
 
I'm told that Fox News shareholder "President Trump" watches a lot of television and movies. At a recent Cabinet meeting, he had a large, poster-size picture of himself on the table in front of him, accompanied by text styled after the hit TV series “Game of Thrones” reading, “Sanctions are Coming.” As has been widely noted, the phrase comes from “Winter is Coming,” and refers to a fictional “Game of Thrones” family, one member of which, Jon Snow, actually leads a caravan of immigrants through a border wall — an odd image for a president who will shut down our government to build such a wall.

Now when you have a egotistical over-blown movie fan such as Trump who just loves to see himself as a heroic action man, saving the US and making it great again...you know that you have really serious problems in this the real world which is made up of human-beings rather than comic-book cartoon characters.
 
The real problem for the rest of the world is that this buffoon cartoon character has his tiny finger on the trigger for starting never ending world wars...has his tiny chubby finger pressing on the big red button that could lead us down the path of deconstructionism as a way of life... seriously folks two of his top advisers are made of MEN who invented Iraq's Weapons Off Mass Destruction lie...and another who just loves killing Arabs!!! Are these advisers even human-beings? Many rightly call them criminals and or mass murderers. Not exactly the kind of chaps you'd invite to your childs birthday party.

Read more about dear Donald and his wealthy mates at:
https://www.democracynow.org/2019/1/31/the_infiltrators_one_movie_trump_should_watch

2. 

Shane Jones looking like a COD out of water:

Shane Jones that infamous minister in charge of tree planting and ex National Party appointee as spokesperson for all things fishing in the pacific. Has decided to do a little trump, read this: 

"NZ First MP and minister Shane Jones has put himself right in the middle of a fight between Greenpeace and fishing company Talley's, reports the NZ Herald. In a press release about a subsidiary of Talley's being charged over alleged bottom-trawling in a protected patch of ocean, Greenpeace's Executive Director Russel Norman noted that Shane Jones was a recipient of donations from Talley's. Mr Jones fired back, accusing Greenpeace of being the ones fishing for donations.

Of course, this all seems like one of those stories where we'll end up talking about a clash between two larger than life personalities, and not about the practice of bottom-trawling itself. It produces a horrendous amount of by-catch – fish which are killed unintentionally and discarded – and is highly destructive to marine ecosystems. Protected areas of the ocean are there for a reason."

Russel Norman, not bad looking for an Australian.

It would seem that Shane Jones doesn't like Russel Norman because he was born in Australia...and that Russel Norman doesn't have a lot of time for people who take gifts from Talley's [One of NZ's worst employers] toward their political campaign...and accept roles in National Party support for outfits like Talley's which are well known for their piss poor handling of worker relationships. I think Russel would not be too happy about Shane's state funded TV viewing habits! 

I wouldn't be surprised if Shane Jones didn't switch party and join the blue / Green national sponsored tag on:

3.
Talking about ethics: I've asked PNCC for some information regarding the very important workshop due to be held on ethical behaviour here is a copy of their usual reply: Thank you for your email. We will respond as soon as possible.

Palmerston North City Council
Customer Services
06 356 8199 

Wheelers Corner 4 pm Mondays

  

Wheelers Corner 05 26th Jan 2019Trump loves Venezuela more than he does US Government workers.

Can you imagine what New Zealanders would say if Nutcase US President Donald Trump told us... "that he doesn't accept Jacinda Ardern as Prime Minister of NZ...

why! because more voters voted against her than for her...therefore he will only accept Simon Bridges as Prime Minister because his party got the most votes...now while that might go down a treat with our Palmerston North Lawyer and mad right winger Liam Hehir and his secret Act Party mates: Here is what one 'Sophie Gardner' wrote in response to Hehir's idiotic statements:
Oh and by the way the Trump mob got less votes that the Clinton crowd...but that didn't stop Trump claiming he won...

Sophie said:
"National are not in power, the hopeless, napless and economically disastrous nats lost, just for clarity for people like yourself in the 'fox' bubble.
Keyish clown regime was our worst,
They funded a unnecessary tax cuts by borrowing,
They borrowed about 7.5 billion a year to fund the cra Cra mess, thats 900 a month or 30 million a day.
They created record post war levels of poverty by just ignoring it.
They created a housing crisis and produced homelessness on scale not seen in our country
They transferred wealth from the working to people like me, 2% of the population who don't work, who have multiple rental properties for no reason except it suited English and key.
They transferred income to top reducing the working share of income by 16% of national income, this beyond reason is the worst outcome it is going to harm kiwi society for generation.
They harm basic social services and were not Christian to the poor or people in need.
In short we have been delivered from a government who were our worst, who harmed us, your post [ Liam Hehir] just is mad, not based on reality".
Sophie Gardner

Mike Pence VP and the man who is scared of his own penis.

Any way coming back to the 'Trump take over of Venezuela' backed by Born again nutter Mike Pence.Who is a follower of the "The Billy Graham rule which is a practice among male evangelical Protestant leaders, in which they avoid spending time alone with women to whom they are not married. It is named after Billy Graham, a proponent of the practice, although recently has also been called the Mike Pence rule.^[1] It is adopted as a display of integrity, a means of avoiding sexual temptation, to avoid any appearance of doing something considered morally objectionable, and to avoid being falsely accused of sexual harassment, but has been criticized as being sexist. Its a pity that he couldn't get Trump to sign up...

"As many American lawmakers, pundits, and advocacy groups remain conspicuously silent in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to formally recognize Venezuela's opposition leader as the "interim president"—a move that was denounced as open support for an attempted coup d'état—renowned linguist Noam Chomsky, filmmaker Boots Riley, and over 70 other academics and experts issued an open letter on Thursday calling on the Trump administration to "cease interfering in Venezuela's internal politics."

"The U.S. and its allies must cease encouraging violence by pushing for violent, extralegal regime change."
—Open Letter

"Actions by the Trump administration and its allies in the hemisphere are almost certain to make the situation in Venezuela worse, leading to unnecessary human suffering, violence, and instability," the letter reads. "The U.S. and its allies must cease encouraging violence by pushing for violent, extralegal regime change. If the Trump administration and its allies continue to pursue their reckless course in Venezuela, the most likely result will be bloodshed, chaos, and instability."

Highlighting the harm American sanctions have inflicted upon the Venezuelan economy and people, the letter goes on to denounce the White House's "aggressive" actions and rhetoric against Venezuela's government, arguing that peaceful talks are the only way forward.

"In such situations, the only solution is a negotiated settlement, as has happened in the past in Latin American countries when politically polarized societies were unable to resolve their differences through elections," the letter reads. "For the sake of the Venezuelan people, the region, and for the principle of national sovereignty, these international actors should instead support negotiations between the Venezuelan government and its opponents that will allow the country to finally emerge from its political and economic crisis."

And I would add that our loopy Palmerston North Lawyer might like to do the same...after all lawyers are meant to understand the law...well one can always hope...Come on Liam Hehir with a socialist background like yours it shouldn't be too much to ask!

https://www.democracynow.org/2019/1/24/a_coup_in_process_trump_moves?utm_source=Democracy+Now%21&utm_campaign=2fb6629233-Daily_Digest_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fa2346a853-2fb6629233-191730185 

2. Behaviour change...wouldn't it be nice if:

Would you believe any of the above?

Speaking of behaviour change... just imagine if woman followed the Billy Graham / Mike Pence rule and refused to be in a room alone with a married man...Gosh the world would come to a stand still...when was the last time you read about a man being raped by a woman?
Just Imagine if Donald Trump followed that odd rule...no more pussy grabbing...no more second and third marriages...no more sex with porn-stars on the side while the wife is in labour...which later cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in hush money....

The MS media reminded us just the other day of how Donald Trump would have grabbed a gun and then rushed into a class room where a nice American boy was busy shooting the teachers and pupils and saved the day...this the very same want-to-be- hero who couldn't don the uniform of his country when they needed him... So we can all understand that ego drives weak men, to talk like a hero but act like a coward.

W/C each Monday at 4 pm...

Wheelers Corner 04 19th January 2019...Mayor does a Trump over gift to Toyota mates.

The face of our angry Mayor...better known as his Toyota Look.

"Mayor Grant Smith has finally opened up about the reasons for the grant, which a majority of councillors supported in a behind-closed-doors meeting in 2017.

A week after the Taxpayers' Union revealed its existence, Smith said he and council staff had responded as quickly as they could to share information kept secret until chief executive Heather Shotter released it".

[So does Heather Shotter run the Council and it's democratic processes? I thought we had got rid of  CEO dictatorships with the replacement of one Paul What was his name? again 'Wylie...] 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/109982983/toyota-grant-paid-to-secure-23-million-expansion-and-keep-car-giant-in-palmerston-north-says-mayor

" So-called Employment portfolio? Councillor Adrian Broad; said having Toyota based in Palmerston North was a powerful selling point in marketing the city's benefits to other businesses interested in locating here". [Give us an example!!]

This stupid statement and non policy enforcement of present policy, makes one wonder why we have a development policy at all, if we ignore it every time one of the big boys puts a little pressure on: 

As it would appear Toyota did. But the latest would suggest they did not ask! https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/110007067/toyota-did-not-ask-for-palmerston-north-ratepayer-for-handout   

And the Mayor and Councillor Broad obeyed their instructions to the letter...and hoped, and prayed, that the public would remain ignorant...but alas their cunning scheme went astray. and alas once again their faith in their PR team proved a flop.


"In August 2017, city councillors first [secretly] debated the potential grant in the private part of a council meeting under the headline on the agenda: "Toyota Distribution Warehouse Extension – development contributions". Now its true that the PNCC has a development contributions policy, well for some!...but it would seem that if your company is big and powerful enough the council can and will reverse its development rules. 

So the real question is 'Did Toyota demand that the development tax be dropped or they may take their redelevopement to elsewhere. If that was the case, that is in 'legal terms' black-mail or theft. 
Yet, instead of reporting the threat to the police or other authority, the council staff with Mayoral support obviously recommended acceptance of Toyota's demands... very Trumpish, is that behaviour. one where lies become a key part of a mis-applied decision making process.

A better and more honest review of what took place regarding Toyota...was and is that the council was yet again caught out...thanks to the ACT Party... Here is what Community Activist Fred Hirst said in response to an earlier W/C item on the subject: https://wheelerscornernz.blogspot.com/2019/01/how-they-voted-wheelers-courner-special.html

Fred Hirst said...

What we don't know, is what information were Councillors given (or not given)for them to believe they were making an informed decision to support this grant? Was there a concealed threat or 'chill factor' if the proposal wasn't supported? What was the justification for the public to be excluded from this discussion?

There is much more to this issue than has been revealed so far given the support by Councillors, whom we would least expect to approve this grant, to a corporation for which this amount is 'chump change'. This ratepayer money could have been spent to make a meaningful difference to members of our community in hardship.

16 January 2019 at 21:06

   After delaying his response until his PR team could come up with a believable excuse the Mayor proves yet again that his move into the false-news world of Donald Trump is now fully complete. 

Palmerston North deserves better leadership, one that leads by using an ethical standard acceptable across the board. Not one that measures ethics by the size of your wallet. What makes this stuff up more ironic is that the ACT party revealled it... especially considering its history of Corporation Welfare policy Vs Social policy. 

2. 

Darroch Ball...

Talking about stupid political statements NZ First list MP Darroch Ball...stated 'Lets stop blaming the police', Ball jumping on the band wagon debate about police chase policy...According to Ball National got it all wrong back in 2017...oh dear me...how do you legisilate for bad police behoviour...ie planting evidence in a murder trial...the bullet casing in the Arthur Allen-Thomas case...the cop that planted that evidence got praised not condemned by the later police chief...Darroch Ball has a very selective memory...a sort of a Grant Smith memory...remember the good things but hide the bad...

3.

When School kids play up...teachers attempt to put them on the right track...but it would seem that when Councillors and Mayors play up we are meant to turn a blind eye...and hope that some one else will save us...

A bit of advice to the council...since you record each vote...then at the end of each month...collate those votes by name. Using Title of vote: Name of voter: For: Against: Abstained: not present. And publish a monthly copy via the media and the Council's web page.

This will certainly give individual voters a clear picture of the habits of individual councillors in regard to democratic processes. And after all that was one of the major reasons why electronic or computer based voting was introduced. It was meant to lead to MORE democracy...not less.

 

Wheeler's Corner Mondays 4pm 99AM.

 

How they voted. Wheelers Courner special 03 17th January 2019

Toyota a dream come true...

Judging by the heads it would appear that men, mainly elderly ones turned up at the opening of Toyota’s new spare parts division. I wonder how many of those present were rate payers, since the rate payers had parted with up to 400,000 dollars, to see Toyota’s dream come true. For reasons best known only to themselves the PNCC kept secret this act of generosity to the worlds second largest car manufacturing company which made a mare 20 billion dollar [US] profit last year.

Integrity means: Honesty, Soundness, wholeness, so says the dictionary...

Lets apply those definitions to the council behaviour regarding the gift to Toyota.

1. Was it discussed openly?...short answer NO, because it wasn’t discussed in public, in fact it was only discussed in secret when the public had been excluded...

2. Was it done with soundness? No it wasn’t because for reasons unknown, the council kept secret any knowledge that it had that Toyota was in fact in such a bad financial state that without the PNCC grant it couldn’t proceed with its upgrade.

3. Wholeness? well since the above two reasons failed to meet even a lowly rated measurement standard factor it would appear that wholeness was not considered worthy of consideration.

Here is what the Manawatu Standard had to say on the matter [thus far].

https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/109962917/continuing-secrecy-on-toyota-deal-perplexing

https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/109904416/mayor-and-councillors-supported-

I have yet to hear back in regard to my request for information on which Councillors voted for this corporate welfare handout grant: And it would appear that they need a full twenty days to get their story fit for public knowledge.

Just as I wrote the above I recieved an email fron Council stating the following:

Good afternoon Peter

Further to you LGOIMA request please see below voting results from the decision on Toyota Grant

                                                                                                                                                                     

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Brent Barrett, Susan Baty, Rachel Bowen, Adrian Broad, Gabrielle Bundy-Cooke, Lew Findlay QSM, Leonie Hapeta, Jim Jefferies, Lorna Johnson, Duncan McCann, Bruno Petrenas and Tangi Utikere.

Against:

Councillor Karen Naylor.

Abstained:

Councillor Aleisha Rutherford.

Regards

Penny

So there they are...and how they voted...so you decide do these people have any ethical standards at all. It would seem that when the Mayor says jump...the only question asked is "How High"...

Again, we saw a temper tantrum because he couldn't get his own way. Wheelers Corner 02 12th Jan 2019

While NZ has maintained its position as the forth most democratic country in the world, the US has gone backward and now sits at 24th.

So will the world see the US change its shameful lying ways, or will there have to be an Extreme Revolution before the US educates its comic-book leadership that one can not exist on lies, hate and racism alone...which is the real world of Trump...and his strange followers...

I know that you, like thousands of others, are becoming fed up with our bias main stream media forever giving Trump such idiotic and mindless blanket coverage.

But this week Trumps 'nuttiness' simply exploded into a frenzy of stopping people from being paid. 

The worlds greatest climate change denier and liar 'Donald Trump' has become so wrapped up in his now obvious and blatant lies that I believe he truly and actually lacks the mental capacity to recognise his own PR crap and mental health problems.

Sadly for Trump his insanely wealthy Daddy is dead, so he is not around to bail-out over and over again his lying son. His poor old daddy must be rolling in his grave as he follows the crazed behaviour of this pretend President. Here is what Trump had to say about his selected political party:

 Thus far the US media has fact checked his thousands of tweets etc and they suggest that he lies on average around twenty-five times per day.

Using that data as a guide you can see that he is a very practiced liar of the highest order... So when he suggests that terrorists kills more people than American born locals, he is simply bull-shiting. And when he suggests that America is the most democratic country. He is also tossing the crap.

Based on the latest world ranking the US is twenty-fifth. New Zealand remains the world's fourth most democratic country, while the United States remains a "flawed democracy", the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) says. go to the ref below and take a look...

http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2019/01/something-to-be-proud-of.html   

In fact no one kills innocent citizens faster than the US. Seriously Trump wants teachers to carry guns...beat that for stupidity... Americans do... want change, want peace, want democracy. Want honest leadership and fair elections.  

In what US Democrat leadership has called a "temper tantrum", US President Donald Trump has stormed out of a meeting over funding for a wall along the Mexican border and seeking an end to the shutdown of the government.

"Mr Trump's latest meeting with Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi came 19 days into the shutdown of the US government.
Mr Trump has demanded $US5.7bn to build a steel barrier, which would deliver on a key campaign pledge, but Democrats - who this month took over the House of Representatives - have refused.
About 800,000 federal workers will go without pay this week for the first time since the shutdown began due to the lack of agreement to fund nine federal agencies. If the shutdown continues into the weekend it will become the longest in US history.

Mr Schumer told reporters the president had abruptly left when Mrs Pelosi said she would not approve any wall funding.
"He [Mr Trump] asked Speaker Pelosi, 'will you agree to my wall?' She said no," the Senate Democratic leader said.
"And he just got up and said, 'then we have nothing to discuss,' and he just walked out.
"Again, we saw a temper tantrum because he couldn't get his way."
Mr Trump tweeted after leaving the meeting, saying it had been a "total waste of time".
"I asked what is going to happen in 30 days if I quickly open things up, are you going to approve Border Security which includes a Wall or Steel Barrier? Nancy said, NO. I said bye-bye, nothing else works!," the President wrote.

So there you have it, a grown man [well a man, I think] acting like a spoiled brat...bugger the workers, if you wont give me what I desire I won't pay you...your family can starve, do you remember the fat over-weight Queen of France who said let them eat cake! Well the French population removed her head from her shoulders... Now I'm not suggesting that Trump is a Queen! Yes he may be over-weight but removing his head is not my style. I would suggest a long spell in a mental hospital may do the trick...

2. Money to burn:

So lets move onto more mundane matters like the PNCC donating thousands [around $400 thousand] in a grant to 'Toyota' , now we know the Mayor is a rusty tin soldier but the bribe [grant] to Toyota takes his un-ethical behaviour a step too far. 

Question: "Did Toyota International corporation apply for a grant of 400 thousand...from the PNCC or were they simply given it...as was the NZ Defence Industry Association...does the Mayor Grant Smith drive a Toyota?

Toyota is simply crazy mayoral corporate welfare gone mad, Toyota is the second largest car manufacturer in the world. With a $22 billion profit world wide. Why should Mrs Jones of PN have to pay extra rates to  help fund this corporate monster? Which Councillors signed over 400 thousands dollars...give us their names.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/109777009/council-tops-up-toyota-with-grant-for-expansion

After checking out the MS news item, you decide if the so-called Mayoral 'ethics' actually exists.
Was the full council involved in granting this gift to the poor and needy Toyota company welfare fund. Here are a few remarks from MS readers commenting on the revelations of this latest corperate welfare grant on the issue.

The_4th_estate

While you do have to wonder if it would have been better to build a single social house for instance, the amount is chump change, this deal pales in significance to local and central government handouts to operations like the Americas Cup, Rugby World Cup, Lord of the Rings and Avatar movies. In the meantime we are expected to accept harsh austere economic measures when we need an operation at a public hospital because theres no money... because a wealthy corporation nicked it!

crackiswack

Toyota choose to apply for the grant. That's $391k not available for community groups. Oh well, look out for the next free Toyota sausage sizzle to support the community. I hope you're hungry palmy.

Ardvark

There is no justifiable reason for the council to make this grant. Toyota's infrastructure in Palmerston North is such that it would be totally irrational for the company to walk away because it didn't get the grant. One of Toyota's core values is "We believe in respecting others." If that is true why would a company that makes multi millions in profit make application for or accept from the council $400,000 of rate payers money, knowing many of them struggle to meet their every increasing rate obligations. What would be interesting is how many grants have been made to Toyota when it has expanded previously. If Toyota truly believes in respecting others then the honorable thing to do is to return the $400,000 to the cities hard working rate payers.

Rusty J

Grants do not have a GST component there's more to this then written in the paper

Nann

Just can’t believe this article! Ratepayers put your thinking caps on as we will need to for the next Council elections. Makes me angry when there is no money for roads or footpaths but big companies like Toyota can get pandered to like this!

superheat01

And yet council are unable to rectify the sewerage and stormwater issues in our streets.  When brought to their attention you only get the standard pcbs reply. :( makes it really hard Grant to fork out rates knowing you are giving it away to a very profitable corporation.

David Osborne

I think that your Massey expert needs to remember that the Council needs to Act according the LGA02. The Principles of that act say it must conduct its business in an, ‘open, transparent, and democratically accountable manner’. Furthermore it is required to follow its own policies including it’s Development Contributions Policy 2015 and the Whistleblower policy, which I understand requires an investigation when a staff alleges serious wrong doing such as this. Even if this turns out to be legal as a political decision it is in the public interest that it is made in public, especially if turns out that pressure was brought to make it, as mentioned to me by the CFO. One could speculate that apart from Corporate welfare it is also unfair competition with other car makers. How more undesirable a process could you imagine. I am happy it is now public and not secret.

So that's it for this week, thank God...2019 looks like being a strange year...local elections are set to take place and you will have to decide between a TIN soldier and Toyota fan in the shape of Grant Smith and or anyone else willing to step up ethically.

Yes this years local body elections may well lead us back in the direction of ethical behaviour...what a welcome change that could be. So will the Mayor invite the public to share in the debate about ethics involved in running our city before and during the agreed workshop on the issue. 

Who voted YES?

Which of our Councillors said YES to the 400 thousand dollar gift to Toyota. Was it, Lew Findlay, Duncan McCann, Susan Baty, Rachel Bowen, Adrian Broad, Vaughan Dennison, Brent Barrett, Gabrielle Bundy-Cooke, Lorna Johnson, Jim Jifferies, Karen Naylor, Aleisha Rutherford, Tangi Utikere, Leonie Hapeta or Bruno Petrenas.

Of course we will never know unless some one tells us...but will they...so I'm requesting that each of those councillors named send me a email telling me how they voted...and I will publish your reply.

Wheelers Corner MPR 4pm each Monday.

    

Toy Tin soldier makes for a poor Mayor. Wheelers Corner 01 5th Jan 019

The Manawatu Standard this week published an item on what could be called a “cover-up” when the Waiouru Camp training base came under a bit of ‘investigative’ journalism about negative military behaviour.That sent NZ First SAS wanna-be Defence Minister Ron Mark into a spin...for like our PN Mayor he too is a tin soldier...

You can read the item at: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/109467875/army-recruit-cut-out-of-tv-series-amid-allegations-of-bullying-and-assault

Now I’m raising this issue because of the strange behaviour of our local Mayor ‘Grant Smith’ a well known heroic lover of all things military. Who welcomed with wide open arms... the 2018 yearly arms sale forum which has cost the city over twenty thousand plus dollars and the tax payers of NZ a further one hundred plus thousand dollars in protection costs for a bunch of money hungry lovers of tin soldiers and the actual real blood and guts of innocent humans blasted apart by the worlds most expensive military technology.
But killing civilians in Afghanistan, the supply of arms to the Saudi and UAE forces to blast Yemeni women and children into submission. These lovers of tin soldiers and Donald Trump... he who grew extra bones [now don't laugh] in his feet...and then suddenly lost those bones once he was excused from military service...via a family friendly so-called Doctor...Oh the things money can buy.

Now, it would seem that our ‘toy, soldier boy’ Mayor has now gone one step further...after conceding his [I hope honest] acceptance that we should revisit the weird ethical commitment made to the NZ Defence INDUSTRY Association. by reviewing the ethics involved in giving them what ever they want...this closed workshop is to be held some time in April or March 2019. Which seems a little odd when one considers that he has already told them [NZDIA] that they are booked in for 2019. Does that mean he is bull-shiting about having an open mind...we shall see...Is it possible for our tin soldier style mayor to have an open mind...a blank one maybe...who knows?

While the Waiouru story was old news, it showed clearly the exent that Defence will go to keep negative comments from the public. Of course this is nothing new: The military give medals to those who will hide the truth: Check out this brilliant cartoon: And we should never forget that we have some civic leaders who use our in built pride in what our forefathers did...this simply proves the length to which some childish political leadership will go to appear to be patriotic.

Even our young people these days accept that the sacrificial behaviour at battles like Gallipolli and most other 1st World War battles.
Palmerston North’s pro-defence mayor, one Grant Smith a lover of all things military...who displayed his absolute and obviously in-built stupidity to it’s full its extent, when by his complete lack of moral and ethical courage. he permitted without councillors consent, Palmerston North to accept the bull shit put out by the NZ Defence Industry Association international wing.

Which took our city from the path of world peace and on to a pathway of arms sales and climate destruction... Wellington and Auckland and thousands of other cities around the world have realised the stupidity of forever manufacturing weapon of war.

Could this be SAS wanna-be Ron Mark?

Even the mad US under the strangest President ever, is waking up to the stupidity or war!
“Veteran NBC Reporter Rips Pro-War Posture of Corporate Media in Scathing Resignation Letter "That a network insider has blown the whistle on how all this works, and how MSNBC and NBC have become Ground Zero for these political pathologies of militarism and servitude to security state agencies, while not surprising, is nonetheless momentous."

Noting in his 2,228-word memo that "the world and the state of journalism [are] in tandem crisis," Arkin delivers a scathing critique of how NBC has responded to the foreign policy of President Donald Trump—whom he calls "an ignorant and incompetent impostor"—asserting that "in many ways NBC just began emulating the national security state itself—busy and profitable. No wars won but the ball is kept in play."

However, Arkin also delivers a broader condemnation of the network's coverage of the so-called War on Terror in the nearly 18 years since 9/11, and how it has helped produce a scenario in which "perpetual war has become accepted as a given in our lives." He writes:
“Seeking refuge in its political horse race roots, NBC (and others) meanwhile report the story of war as one of Rumsfeld vs. the Generals, as Wolfowitz vs. Shinseki, as the CIA vs. Cheney, as the bad torturers vs. the more refined, about numbers of troops and number of deaths, and even then Obama vs. the Congress, poor Obama who couldn't close Guantanamo or reduce nuclear weapons or stand up to Putin because it was just so difficult. We have contributed to turning the world national security into this sort of political story. I find it disheartening that we do not report the failures of the generals and national security leaders. I find it shocking that we essentially condone continued American bumbling in the Middle East and now Africa through our ho-hum reporting”.Report ends.
lastly:
Can you imagine a country so nutty...that it cancels the wages of its workers...because it can't raise the money to build a bloody wall... Surely you can't order people to work but NOT pay them. Can people be forced to work for nothing these days, and is that progress?

On Friday morning a quiet but powerful demonstration took place...there were no lines of Police shouting...’MOVE...Move!! have a read...The young people who assisted with this demonstration are clearly light years ahead of some of our old mainly male political leaders. https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/109716145/melting-blocks-of-ice-signifies-climate-change-in-manawat?cid=app-iPhone

 

Janice Meets Alice WC weekend read...

Janice Meets Alice.

Every now and then, we need a hand, to see us over a difficult time, some one who understands what's required, to get us back on track. This short story shows that help from any quarter is valued...Angels are rare...as are Demons...Alice is an Angel...Janice was and still is a hard working Mom. [Now grand-mom]  

Hi, I’m Janice,

The trip from Palmerston North to Whanganui takes about an hour, all going well that is…not a long trip you might think, but twice a day five or six days a week now that’s a different story. I’d done this trip for about a month and let me assure you it was getting to me. I’m a mother of two, with a husband and a dog oh and not forgetting a couple of cats. My husband and two children both of who are in their late teens can do most things. Other than cook, poached eggs on toast or baked beans or even canned soup, yea they can manage that level of culinary fare but healthy three vegetables and meat plus roast spuds with a pudding once in a while seems, like if you’ll excuse the pun ‘pie in the sky’.

No doubt you’ve seen those American television sit-coms where all the family shares in the preparation of meals? Well ours is not like that. Yet we’ve got all the mod-com aids like microwave oven, slow cooker, even an oven with a fan, recipe books to burn including an early edition of the Edmonds cook book. But alas the skill of cooking was deeply lacking amongst the neat team who resided at my address.

2

My daily plan of action was simple; well it wasn’t so much of a plan more like a routine really. Up at the crack of dawn, visit the small room and straight into the kitchen after washing my hands of course, and prepare the evening meal. Peel some spuds, dice some carrots, peel or is it strip a couple of onions, parsnips. Remove some pork chops from the freezer and put them in the fridge to thaw, boil the jug for a coffee using the rest of the water to make a quick jelly into which I place a few quartered peaches. I depart the kitchen just as the others arrive including the dog, oh he is so sweet, and the two cats. The rest of the family feed them along with themselves.

I then head back to the bathroom put the dirty washing in the basket and replace the lid. Then I head for the dresser and powder my nose and other things. Slip into something suitable for the day ahead and head back to the dining room where all my love ones are deep into various breakfast variations. I check my diary for up-dates on the days-organised activities, like dancing lessons, soccer practice times, dog or cat to vets, dry cleaning and urgent requirements from the supermarket. A quick kiss for and from all and it’s off and running to the car.

As you can understand this routine keeps one slim and trim but sometimes can leave one totally exhausted.

One morning I was just so worn out that I said to myself, ‘Damn dinner’ I’m going to stay in bed for another hour. And I did just that. Then I arose and hogged the bathroom and took a slow shower spending lots of time on my neglected spots. Then I spent double my normal time on my hair. I grabbed a slice of toast off my husbands plate and said to all those gathered in the kitchen, ‘dinners your worry’ tossed them all a goodbye kiss, including the cats and the dog and departed the scene. They, human and animal looked in total shock as I departed that domestic environment. Of course after about five or six miles guilt hit me, just as it did, my cell phone buzzed. I switched the car adapter on and answered, ‘It’s me’

‘Are you all right’ I recognised my husband’s voice

‘Sure am’

‘And tonight’s dinner’

‘Your worry’ I said fighting the guilt.

‘But tonight’s football practice’

‘That’s right’

‘Fish and chips is that OK’

‘No way” You know the rules, only on a Friday’.

‘Drive carefully honey’

‘You too, I said and pushed the off button.

3

Apprehension bugged me all the way home, what would I find when I got home. A meal fit for a queen. Roast Pork, spuds, parsnips all baked to perfection, silver-beet followed by steamed pudding with golden syrup and a blob of whipped cream. As I pulled into the drive, locked the car and headed toward the back door the aroma of roasting meat hit me. No it’s no possible, but that smell that delightful bouquet so powerful and aromatic what the hell can it be. My imagination must be going nutty and I must be dreaming. Then I realised Michael that’s my husband and Bob, he’s our oldest would be at soccer practice and our youngest Jenny would be at her dance lesson, she gets picked by Michael and Bob on their way home around six thirty. So with great trepidation I unlocked the door only to be greeted by two hungry looking cats and an ever-growing aroma of cooking and I might add appetizing food.

Only the pork and roast vegetables were actually cooking hence the wonderful aroma, the silver-beet was in the steamer and had even had a little sugar added rather than salt and as I lifted the lid on the stainless steel pot there was a steam pudding wrapped in muslin. I staggered to a kitchen chair and sat, no I never fainted but it was a near thing. Then I guessed Michael, dear sweet Michael must have done all this before heading off to soccer…he would even have had to come home early to achieve all this…but a steam pudding in muslin…no he must have got someone in to help him his Mother maybe?

Regaining some composure I slipped into jeans and a baggy Tee shirt came back to the kitchen and selected a bottle of white wine and popped it into the fridge. I switch the hot plate under the steam pudding to high, put my finger into the silver-beet and then licked the sugar from my finger thinking; ‘Now this is the life’. I went into the living room and switched on the TV in time for the six o’clock news.

Hi, said Michael, what’s that super smell?

Gee Mom you did cook dinner, Dad said we could be having fish and chips, said Jenny.

Bob, after tossing his soccer boots down in his bedroom came in and said, ‘See I told you Dad that Mom would get tea as usual’.

‘But, I started to say…

‘Don’t you say anything said Michael, you’ve done enough already, I think that sleep in this morning has done you a world of good, he added.

‘And Mom, we’ll do the dishes without a fight tonight, said Jenny.

The meal was wonderful; it was perfection and worthy of the finest chef. We were all sated. While Michael and the kids did the dishes I went outside and sat at patio table with a glass of the chilled white wine and tried to work out what had actually had happened. Who had prepared the meal? Why? I must have been sitting there for what seemed like an hour or so, Michael had switched on the garden lights and given me a soft kiss on the back of my neck and said he was going to work on the computer for an hour or so. The kids were in their rooms deep into their homework. I felt so contented, happy and relaxed. The dog sat at my feet and rubbed his ears against my ankles while one of the cats had curled into a ball of fur and purred on my lap. I dozed off.

4

Hello…Hi, said a voice unknown to me.

I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hands and saw an elderly lady, easily in her seventies or eighties…’Sorry but I never heard you arrive’.

‘No you wouldn’t, I’m always very quiet’

‘Who are you?’

‘I’m Alice Bowmont-Harris’

I’m…

“Oh, I know who you are”

‘You do.’

‘Oh, yes, we’re flat-mates so to speak, flat mates, isn’t that what they call people who live in the same house these days, they used to call them boarders when I was young’.

‘And when was that? I asked.

‘Dear me, it was a long time ago’.

I rubbed my eyes again and Alice was still there. The cat slid off my lap and climbed on Alice’s broad lap, the dog gave a yawn and settled down again. They seemed use to Alice being around.

‘Did you enjoy the meal? She asked.

‘So it was you who cooked dinner tonight?

‘Of course and it felt really good to prepare a meal again after all these years’.

‘Who are you and where are you from?

‘I live here’.

‘No we live here’

‘That’s true but so do I’

I stood up and was about to walk away thinking it must have been the wine when Alice said quietly but with a persuading edge, ’Please sit down and let me explain the circumstances that you and I find ourselves in’.

I sat and the dog nestled once more against my ankle and our second cat took up residence on a spare patio chair, her ears upright and eager to hear Alice’s story, as was I.

Alice leaned slightly forward and began her story. “A long time ago I lived right here where your house is built. This whole area was a farm in those days. But our farmhouse was right where your house stands today. I was newly wed and Richard, my husband had brought the land from the local Iwi and had with his Father developed the farm. It was a good life, the small but growing township of Palmerston North was not far away and we had good markets for both our milk and produce. But these good times couldn’t last and we were hit by huge floods in 1902 we lost everything our stock and sadly I lost Richard…Tears appeared on the cheeks of Alice…I reached out and touched her hand. Alice went on, we searched for days for Richard’s body and both I and his Father continued for months after that. His Father died a few years later and since I had no children there was only me remaining. I continued my search but years had now past. Then one day I was walking down by the Awapuni Lagoon, I would go down there to buy an eel from the Maori families who fished the Lagoon, when I met the daughter of the family who had sold Richard the farm land. She recognised me and we sat on a rough sawn log seat. I told her my story and she listened with great empathy. She said she thought she knew someone who could help and she would get her great aunt to visit me within the week. I thought she was just being nice because of my circumstances, but she was true to her word and four or five days later she and her Aunt arrived at my door. Her Aunt added by a stout walking stick was led at her request to objects that Richard had touched, used or built. Alice paused for a long moment…

‘Please go on I asked, eager to learn more. Even the dog had sat up and was looking at Alice; both cats had stopped purring and were all attention. I felt sure they understood every word Alice had spoken.

Alice then gently continued. The Aunt after touching various objects, a chair on which Richard had sat when smoking his pipe, our bed in which we had first made love and the plow who’s blades he had forged. She then asked me to lie on the earth, which I had prepared for a future garden. This I did, she bent down and touched my forehead and softly recited a short Maori chant, ‘E mohiotia ana a waho kei roto he aha’ ‘One can not know from the outside what is contained within’ and she repeated this three times. Standing both she and her niece helped me to my feet. The Aunt reached into her apron pocket and passed me a handful of dark brown seeds. ‘Plant these seeds in the indentation made by your body, not outside of it but all within, she instructed. When the seedlings appear keep the strongest two and remove the others. If you have not found your husband’s resting place before you are about to die, take a twig from each tree and have them placed in your coffin this will ensure that your spirit remains earth bound until your husband is found and put to rest. I was told that I must remain near the trees and was given the power to appear if the trees were put in danger, for should the trees be felled the spell would be broken. Hence my boarding with you so as to protect those two tall trees in your back yard. Taking a small white-laced handkerchief she wiped her eyes that were over flowing. ‘

I was stunned and confused, lost for words; I accepted the reality of Alice Angel or Demon I knew not which.

‘Your trees are safe with us; we brought this house mainly because of the trees and the garden below’.

‘I know, said Alice, I scared off a couple of other buyers before you came along, she added as a soft and barely perceptible smile crossed her lips.

‘I too smiled, as I asked, why then the meal?’

‘I don’t really know but it’s just that I feel Richards’s discovery is close. It’s nothing more than a feeling and besides that I want you and your family to remain. So I just thought I might help you out during this busy time of your life…simply an old woman’s desire to be useful and active…as a spirit I don’t get any older but nor do I get any younger’.

Well we made a deal, I would protect the trees and she would cook the evening meals. All I had to do was to make sure all the ingredients were available and taught her how to manage the microwave. Alice in turn explained to me that I could communicate by ‘think-talk’ and that she would keep out of sight of the rest of the family. Oh other than the cats and our dog, they had been communicating for a year or so. Alice didn’t realise it but this was every working mother’s dream come true.

5

Some many months later…

After a great deal of protest the Palmerston North City Council agreed to sell the block of land known as the ‘Railway Land’ to the Warehouse a huge retail business that has taken over the marketing of mainly cheap slave labour goods imported in to New Zealand. It is based on the American Wal-Mart model. That uses cheap labour, low paid staff that allows the clear undercutting of local businesses.

While the contractors were excavating the foundation area in preparation for erecting the massive shell like structure, human bones were found. Building came to a halt and experts were called in. According to the Manawatu Standard it was first thought that the bones were Maori but later were proven to be European and male around thirty years of age. The bones themselves appeared to be between ninety and one hundred years old. A solid silver chain with a small cross-attached was found with the skeleton with the letters R.BH. The remains are to be buried at the Cemetery in James Line and the local Lions Club is providing a plaque with the letters R.BH and the date.

6

‘I have to leave now’, said Alice. She sat under the two large trees in an old rocking chair that was covered in a coat of green and white moss.

I stood, back resting against one of the broad tree trunks; the sun was beaming down creating defused waves of mystic yellow and orange images on the leaf-strewn lawn. I didn’t know what to say in response to Alice’s words.

‘Say goodbye to Michael, Bob and Jenny for me, although we never met, they have become a part of my family I did so enjoy cooking for you all’. She wept softly. The dog trotted toward Alice and rested at her feet nudging her ankles. Both cats strolled proudly out of a shady patch and with that wonderful dexterity only possessed by felines leapt onto her ample lap. ‘Oh I shall miss you three as well’ she uttered as she stroked the cats gently behind their ears.

A breeze drifted in and rustled the dry leave bed at our feet, I was crying, I went over and stood behind Alice and wrapped my arms around her resting my head on her shoulder. The breeze was growing stronger and I sensed that time was short. “Thank you for your meals, your company, but mostly for being here go and be with your Richard, your darling Richard.’ I held her hand. She smiled that smile that told of life and pain that had lasted a hundred years. Then Alice disappeared into an ever-expanding vertex of wind and leaf. I stood and looked toward the sky as did our dog and two cats…it was over.

7

‘Mom” What’s for dinner’, shouted Jenny…

‘What say we just have fish and chips”…

‘But, Mom its Wednesday not Friday’ answered Jenny.

“Oh, who cares”.

The following day the need to travel back and forth to Whanganui ended and I was now to be located predominately in Palmerston North.

I never believed in ghosts or spirits until I met Alice. Now I’m not so sure. Maori have a saying, E kimi ana I ngā kāwai I toro ki tawhiti, translated it means: ‘He seeks the branches that stretch far and wide’ said of anyone seeking to claim distant or lost relationships.

Feedback would be highly valued: wheeler@inspire.net.nz