Letters to the Editor: An alternative to interest rates to curb inflation

The scheme had the benefits of being almost instantly effective in reducing demand and the period of time any intervention would be needed. Mortgage rates would not go up, business interest costs would stay constant, any increase in unemployment would be largely reduced. Nobody would lose income from increased mortgage rates; rather, income is just deferred to a later date.

However, it must be noted that not all inflation in New Zealand is internally generated, for example, oil price increases. So, maybe with this scheme it would allow a look-through for these items, so they are not counted in headline inflation and people accept that price increases due to external effects just have to be put up with.

Clem Guildford, Waiheke Island.

CRL benefits

Your letter writer from Coromandel, Neville Cameron (Letters, August 8), has clearly not visited Auckland recently to witness the motorways at gridlock most days. Already, 60% of North Shore commuters who work in the CBD use the Northern Busway, which proves that public transport is effective. The CRL will make convenient public transport available to those who live and work in the wider Auckland area, including Newmarket, Mt Eden, Sylvia Park and beyond.

Furthermore, downtown Auckland is far from a disaster area, with many people in the streets, and busy cafes and entertainment venues. It has taken a while to get to this point, but having a first-class public transport network will see these improvements locked in.

Errol Anderson, Ponsonby.

Party list dilemma

Having announced the National Party list, is Christopher Luxon concerned that some of his “yahoo or numpty” backbenchers will retain their electorate seats, thus displacing top-ranked list-only candidates?

Michael Smythe, Northcote Point.

Dangers of AI

Katrin Bernhold’s opinion (August 8) about the dangers of AI is not comforting. The dangers described are real but in addition it may wreak slow, low-key damage. Already the internet is full of rubbish, for which the so-called social networks are ample proof.

As AI is gathering its answers through the internet, its answers will be rubbish too. Anything can be proven or disproven. When truth disappears, its cousin – trust – will also disappear: trust between individuals, trust between people and their government (whatever is left of it), and trust between nations. Paranoia everywhere. Welcome to hell.

K H Peter Kammler, Warkworth.

TMO frustrates All Blacks fans

A few fumbles and three yellow cards but a good first-up win for the All Blacks against the Stormers. Poor interventions from the TMO who created a new rule for World Rugby, “holding the ball up over the line preventing a try” resulting in a penalty try and yellow card for Josh Morby – really?

Please let referees and TMOs know they are not in the running for any player of the match award. We accept referees’ mistakes and no TMO is ever going to make the rules perfect, they just frustrate the fans when they make a bigger balls-up of the decisions.

The All Blacks’ bench included excellent debuts; all made a great impact, resulting in three ABs tries in the last 12 minutes.

Gary Carter, Gulf Harbour.

A well-deserved win

It is easy to see just how much of a threat we pose to South African teams. Our style of rugby is foreign to them.

The skill with which Josh Moorby scooped up the ball with one hand while still running is a classic example. They need the referee’s help.

Good on our team for keeping their heads up, not buckling to the odds against them, and maintaining belief in their ability to win. A well-deserved win.

J. Hansen, Hastings.