Re: Bay of Plenty Regional councillor Andrew von Dadelszen's article ‘Port ‘bludging' off the city' (The Weekend Sun, February 24).

I suggest the Port also stops charging the United Seafarers Mission $33,000 rental per annum.

This centre just inside the safety of the Hull Rd port gates is run voluntarily by combined Christian groups – The Galilean Mission, The Apostleship of The Sea Stella Maris, Flying Angels, as well as non-religious volunteers. Each volunteer gives at least 3.5 hours per week. These volunteers assist overseas visiting seafarers by driving these ship workers to Bayfair or Tauranga. The centre also provides banking and recreational and rest facilities, a chapel, and a small shop and is a free internet café. Legal direction is also given.

Not only should Cr von Dadelszen, but also all his fellow regional councillors including ex-mayor Cr Stuart Crosby, be concerned about this stiff yearly rental. The Bay of Plenty Regional Council owns 55 per cent of the Port of Tauranga, and, as we now, know makes big profits. These volunteers are doing for free and magnificently what is surely a Port of Tauranga/regional council duty. The near crippling $33,000 per annum rental is bizarre.

N Peterson, Greerton.