Many will be eyeing the living wage concept, which is very overdue. If the low-paid worker tries to get ahead with a second job, out comes secondary tax to dampen their efforts, and in the end the taxpayer has to subsidise the employer – great system.

Many companies or individuals have ways to promote their product, reach out into the community, spread a few crumbs to help a charity, join a club, attend a church as long as the message gets out. When asked about the concept of a living wage, the Mayor said some of our ratepayers do not get a living wage. Some time ago before he became a councillor, Max Mason and I had a few words about rest home workers. I mentioned the fact that he would not do their job for $100 an hour. So the statement from the Mayor has an easy fix: pay the living wage. Why is it so difficult for some to understand that the man who picks up your rubbish needs to live and raise a family? The house could be a problem; he would have to study for a degree in his spare time. Just imagine what would happen if he stopped picking up your garbage for a month. How many volunteers from the professionals would we get?

R Chamberlain, Otumoetai (Abridged).