Some Unconvinced By Clubs' Performances

Illawarra Mercury

Thursday August 11, 2005

THE tone and language used by Les Wilson in his letter (Mercury, August 6) reflects the mentality of the club industry management.

Remember this is the industry that has fought tooth and nail to oppose the smoking bans in clubs, despite the health risks to its own employees. Employees whose services and performance have an influence on whether people return to the club to spend their money.

The Wilsons of the club industry are quick to tell you how much money they contribute to the community for sport etc, but fail to say anything about the effects poker machine addiction has on individuals and families.

Sometimes there are benefits at looking at your own performance before blaming others. The huge salaries of some club managers and the lack of business skills and poor performance of club boards are issues that need to be addressed by the industry.

Although far from a lover of the State Labor Government I would have more confidence in their distribution of poker machine money than that of the club industry.

- KEN BONE,

Lake Conjola.

Nuclear arms risk

JAMES Dunn's latest column highlights the basic point that each of us has an interest in eliminating nuclear weapons from the face of the earth.

The inherent risk of these weapons is that one day, somewhere, they will be used against another nation-state. It will either be by a leader of a government, or terrorists. The risk is simply unacceptable.

A couple of months ago in New York, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review went nowhere. The nation-states which hold nuclear weapons continue to simply meander around the issue of abiding by their NPT obligations. They are required to reduce and eliminate these nuclear weapons.

The United States, Britain, France, Russia and China refuse to act on their clear obligations. In the meantime, the nuclear weapons club continues to grow: Israel, India, Pakistan have joined it. North Korea seeks to. Iran, likewise.

And, dealing in Realpolitik, why wouldn't they? What possible credibility is there in the existing nuclear powers jawboning other nation-states from joining this powerful club?

- GINO MANDARINO,

Kanahooka.

Demonising US

IT seems like James Dunn ("Atomic acts of infamy", Mercury, August 8) has again fallen for leftist, revisionist historical propaganda. It never ceases to amaze me what Mr Dunn will do to demonise America. "The dark side of the US military command ...", "the worst acts of indiscriminate killing in war", etc.

Mr Dunn obviously hasn't heard of the Holocaust, in which six million Jews lost their lives. The perpetrators, incidentally, were tried for "war crimes".

Nor does he mention that about 40,000 to 50,000 non-combatant Asian civilians were dying each month as a result of Japan's imperial conquests. US president Harry Truman weighed all this up in his decision to nuke Japan and bring a quick end to this bloody war.

And here is a clue, Mr Dunn: The Japanese were immoral and unethical in war, yet you choose to naively believe that they were "about to surrender". This was just a front, and they had no intention of surrendering, but to fight a bloody "Armageddon" to the very end.

Do your research, and stop foisting your anti-American propaganda upon us.

- RAY AGOSTINI,

Wollongong.

Reopen the mall

WE agree with Michael Corban's suggestions to reopen the mall to traffic with angle parking 24 hours a day.

Our family business traded successfully in Wollongong from 1949, but we left in 1991, due to the downturn in business caused by the mall.

Our customers complained to us that parking was difficult, therefore they didn't want to come to Wollongong. People do not like to pay for parking.

Open up the mall to traffic and watch the people return.

- MARK & HELLA UNDERWOOD,

Unanderra.

'Aviary' must go

DISMANTLING the "ugly aviary" overhanging the Crown St Mall should be put as a high priority for Wollongong's revitalisation.

Shady, dark walkways are way out of fashion in popular public gathering areas that have scenic surroundings and a pleasant climate. Get with the times.

- R LAMBERT,

Woonona.

No appreciation

FOR five months in 1969, I fought alongside one of the toughest, most ferocious soldiers that ever fought for this country - an English, ex-marine commando by the name of Jim Riddle.

He ended up doing two tours of Vietnam, always as a front-line infantryman, always in the thick of the action.

This man's professionalism saw me and others survive a number of bunker assaults with the 4th Battalion. He was promised three medals, but was awarded none.

He suffered internal injuries in a grenade explosion while serving with the 9th Battalion. But when he came back home to Australia, and sought to renew his passport and apply for Australian citizenship, it was denied him. He was sent packing back to England.

He is 65 now, and receives no war pension of any sort.

While we debate the plight of "refugees" who have done nothing of substance for this country, keep the wrong that has been done to Corporal Jim Riddle in mind. This country owes him.

- DON TATE,

Albion Park Rail.

Praise for school

ST Francis Xavier Primary School has received a fair amount of undeserved criticism lately.

My 10-year-old son was involved in the now infamous and unfounded "sticking plaster incident" and I believe some balance needs to be restored to the school's reputation.

In the 51/2 years he has been attending the school I have had nothing but praise for the genuine, devoted and practical influence of both teachers and parents.

I am constantly delighted by the involvement of the parents in the school community and the leadership of Fran James as principal along with her entirely capable teaching staff.

All schools should be like this!

- TED HANSON,

Wollongong.

© 2005 Illawarra Mercury

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