Open Mike 19/10/2018

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, October 19th, 2018 - 168 comments
Categories: national - Tags:

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168 comments on “Open Mike 19/10/2018 ”

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  1. Ed 1
    19 October 2018 at 6:14 am

    Peter Goodfellow and the National Party board appears to have a lot to answer.
    Looking really bad for National and for Peter Goodfellow.

    Goodfellow won’t answer the questions.
    All board members won’t answer the questions.

    Who is the other National Party member given a trespass notice?

    So many questions….

    ‘The National Party has known for a couple of years about grievances regarding Jami-Lee Ross’ conduct, and got one complainant to sign a confidentiality agreement, sources have told Checkpoint.’

    • Treetop 1.1
      19 October 2018 at 7:08 am

      I would like to know when a confidentiality clause was signed?

      At a guess when the Barclay situation was impacting.

      This might be why English resigned.

      • tc 1.1.1
        19 October 2018 at 7:19 am

        Blinglish was always departing after 2017 election as a 2 time loser IMO.

        SCF etc are large skeletons during his 9 years cooking the books and he’d gone on the list in preparation. His dipton drop in, toddy, reminds us all what national are about.

        • Treetop 1.1.1.1
          19 October 2018 at 7:57 am

          Key resigned 5 December 2016.

          English resigned 13 February 2018.

          In between the above dates was the Barclay electorate office situation which became public.

          Had the behaviour of JLR become public, the National government would have had to have relied on the Maori party to pass legislation.

          I need to check the date when Barclay was no longer in parliament. The Barclay situation dragged on until he could no longer stay.

          The pressure that both women would have been under (Barclay’s electorate office and the woman who signed a confidentiality agreement pertaining to JLR) would have been immense.

          I have a lot of empathy for both women as it was more than ending an MPs career.

          • Ed 1.1.1.1.1
            19 October 2018 at 8:04 am

            It look looks like these women have been expected to be quiet when the National Party needs them to be quiet.
            And talk when needed.
            If so , utterly appalling.

            Everyone is a commodity to the party.

            • Incognito 1.1.1.1.1.1
              19 October 2018 at 8:31 am

              Everyone is a commodity to the party.

              Which begs the question: who or what is the National Party of New Zealand?

              • tc …
                19 October 2018 at 8:56 am

                Watch the hollowmen and make your own judgement, every voting kiwi should.

              • Treetop …
                19 October 2018 at 9:15 am

                I and the country are about to find out without any doubt “who and what is the National Party of New Zealand?”

                I can just see a sequel to Hager’s book.

            • Treetop 1.1.1.1.1.2
              19 October 2018 at 9:10 am

              21 June 2017 Barclay announced he was stepping down. No by – election as the election date was within the next 3 months.

              I think the 2017 election date was set prior to Barclay stepping down.

              My theory is that under Key he knew the control of his party was splitting at the seams and politics is a numbers game to govern.

              • alwyn …
                19 October 2018 at 3:26 pm

                Your comment is a little off-beam.
                Barclay announced, on 21 June, that he would not stand again in the 2017 election.
                He did not resign and therefore there could not have been a by-election. After all there was no vacancy in the seat. He continued as the MP right up until the end of the Parliamentary term.

        • alwyn 1.1.1.2
          19 October 2018 at 10:29 am

          “SCF etc are large skeletons”.
          Why do you continue to repeat this rubbish? Why don’t you, and some other people who comment on this site actually learn the history of the event?
          SCF was included in the Guarantee scheme by the Clark led Labour Government, and in particular by “Sir” Michael Cullen.
          Once included they could not, in practice, be removed without triggering the Guarantee.
          Why don’t you ask Cullen why he did it?

          • KJT 1.1.1.2.1
            19 October 2018 at 4:29 pm

            Rubbish. National extended the scheme to companies like SCF.

            Guess whose cronies were investing in SCF, right until bailout time?

            • alwyn 1.1.1.2.1.1
              19 October 2018 at 6:22 pm

              The original scheme included South Canterbury Finance at the beginning in November 2008.
              I am afraid it is your statement that is rubbish.
              You should take note of the old adage
              “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.”

              • KJT …
                19 October 2018 at 6:26 pm

                Yeah right.

                https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/252397/long-running-scf-trial-wraps-up

                “November 2010 when it applied for a two-year extension to the Guarantee.

                He told defence lawyer Marc Corlett that the extension was approved despite obvious signs coming from the company”.

                • alwyn …
                  19 October 2018 at 7:02 pm

                  SCF was in the original scheme.
                  There was an extended scheme introduced and SCF applied to continue to be covered.
                  If they had been refused a continuation there would have been an immediate withdrawal of funds, it would have gone bust and they would have had to pay out on the guarantee.
                  It was a gamble to allow them to remain, and it didn’t work out.
                  The mistake was to include them in the original scheme and that was done by Cullen. They weren’t critical in 2008 and it wouldn’t have mattered if they had been left out.

                  You did notice that your quote includes the words that “it applied for a two-year extension”. How could they possibly apply for an “extension” if they hadn’t been in the scheme already?

                  • KJT …
                    19 October 2018 at 8:42 pm

                    Other finance companies, that National cronies had not put their money in, were not bailed out. In almost identical circumstances.

                    They were allowed to go bust.

                    • alwyn …
                      19 October 2018 at 9:49 pm

                      Can you please explain how you come to the conclusion that the investors in SCF were “National Cronies”.
                      I looked at this and I have no idea who the investors who were paid out were.

                      Neither do you.

                      Of course I will revise my opinion if you can produce some official evidence of your claim. I’m not going to hold my breath while I’m waiting though.

                      Now why don’t you answer the following questions about these companies you talk about.

                      1.Who were these companies?
                      2. Were those companies included in the scheme?
                      3. Who did invest with them
                      4. Was the money invested with SCF after they were included in the Guarantee scheme?
                      5. Who were the people who invested and were paid out.

                      You are so sure of your claim that I am sure you have the answers at your fingertips. If you haven’t you are clearly living in a fantasy world.

                    • KJT …
                      20 October 2018 at 3:29 pm

                      I had National party cronies telling me to put my money in it. FFS. They didn’t appear to find anything wrong with the obvious lack of ethics. As you would expect.

                      I can put on the “Kings” accent, the suit and the ” born to rule air, and “pass” when i want to.
                      Lately it has been most useful, supporting mentally ill teenagers at WINZ.

                      Hanover was one of the companies. Only real ma and pa investors with a few thousand in that one, however.

              • Draco T Bastard …
                19 October 2018 at 6:39 pm

                Ah, you’re still trying to spread the lie that it was Cullen that did it rather than your hero Bill English and National.

                Can’t say that I’m surprised. You have to lie to protect your beliefs that right-wing policies and management work when they obviously don’t.

                • alwyn …
                  19 October 2018 at 7:04 pm

                  And you may just continue in your deranged comments.
                  I’m sure it makes you feel better to ignore reality.
                  You remind me of JLR in that respect.

                  • Draco T Bastard …
                    19 October 2018 at 9:20 pm

                    It’s not me who’s ignoring reality, who’s trying to re-write history to conform to their delusional beliefs.

      • Muttonbird 1.1.2
        19 October 2018 at 9:51 am

        Would also be interesting to know what hush money was paid.

        And Key would definitely have signed off on this…

      • Draco T Bastard 1.1.3
        19 October 2018 at 12:38 pm

        I would like to know when a confidentiality clause was signed?

        I want to know if a confidentiality agreement that attempts to hide an apparent crime is even legal.

        • Treetop 1.1.3.1
          19 October 2018 at 1:22 pm

          Apart from Goodfellow knowing, my bet would be on Bennett. Bennett has been deputy PM of the National Party since 12 December 2016.

          Not a peep from JLR or the National Party over the date of the confidentiality agreement.

          The woman who was muzzled had to consider her wellbeing first and would have been in a prime position to bargin.

          The National Party believed this woman who complained about JLR which spared her some anguish.

          This week has exposed dysfunction within the National Party.

          1. List places for sale.
          2. Confidentiality clause when an MP goes ferral.
          3. Dodgey details regarding donations.

        • KJT 1.1.3.2
          19 October 2018 at 4:45 pm

          Under NZ contract law, any clause, in a contract, which breaks a law is automatically void. It does not necessarily invalidate the entire contract, however.

          You cannot contract to do an illegal act, or hold anyone to doing an illegal act, under contract.

          I suspect a contract, to hide an illegal act, will be voided in court.

  2. AsleepWhileWalking 2
    19 October 2018 at 6:39 am

    Spare a thought for David Noakes. He’s being taken to court (kangaroo with just a judge and a predetermined outcome – jail if he attempts to argue his innocence).

    GcMAF has a shocking level of success with non verbal autism and cancer and other nasties. Noakes is a hero for his part on bringing this to market.

    The kangaroo EU court is similar to what we can expect from the TPPA in whatever form it is now. Real solutions killed by pharmaceutical company domination in the regulatory system. Unnecessary death and suffering to the people.

    • Stunned mullet 2.1
      19 October 2018 at 6:49 am

      I had never heard of David Noakes so had a look at his wiki page. If even half of it is factual he appears to be a bat shit crazy charlatan.

      • Dukeofurl 2.1.1
        19 October 2018 at 9:30 am

        hes a con trying to make big money with fake cures, facing jail because he is a risk to patient safety. Courts are judges only all the time.

  3. Ed 3
    19 October 2018 at 6:50 am

    The elephant in the room.
    Chinese money and the corruption of our political , economic and academic system.

    Anne-Marie Brady’s Twitter feed is worth keeping an eye on.

    “At the heart of the bloodbath unfolding @NZNationalParty is an allegation of Beijing-backed political donations being laundered to escape reporting laws. Time to face up to the rot at the heart of our democracy & break the hold of corrosive outside money: Reform electoral finance.”

    And this article describes the effect of this money on academia.

    “Only one China expert here has spoken out consistently on this, Professor Anne-Marie Brady, infamously subjected to burglaries alleged to be the work of Chinese state operatives. When other local experts publicly equivocate or fail to comment about Brady’s research into the United Front campaign in New Zealand, the public is led to believe the scale of Chinese government influence here can’t be that bad, or at least that the situation isn’t clear.

    In my experience, wonks from across the academic, business, quango and government sectors are extremely concerned about the extent of China’s influence campaign here. But they can’t say much publicly or their own Chinese government-linked funding, or their access, or their negotiations – even in some cases, their families – could come under pressure.

    These constraints are impacted by the dearth of independent funding of China research, and the lack of funding for research institutions generally. It’s a small-country weakness that is easy for any state or lobby group with deep pockets to exploit.

    You don’t need to feel literally threatened for there to be a chilling effect. People are behaving “normally” — diplomatically, pragmatically, individually, or adhering to organisational directives. I don’t blame them. But cumulatively, the result is unacceptable: a wall of silence where there should be informed critique, transparency and debate,”

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12144581

    • mauī 3.1
      19 October 2018 at 10:38 am

      Ed, thank you.

    • Draco T Bastard 3.2
      19 October 2018 at 12:47 pm

      Where’s that first quote from?

    • gsays 3.3
      19 October 2018 at 1:18 pm

      I am currently in Cambodia and have been talking to a few locals.
      The recurring theme is dismay at the amount of Chinese influence in the politics.

      Went to Kulen mountain yesterday, a beautiful spot, big rocks, waterfalls, indigenous village….
      Because of ‘litter’ the governor is moving 5000 individuals (possibly families), hours away and a private company is taking over the area.
      A Chinese company.

      Similarly, the Angkor Wat administration, that takes US$37 a head to enter the temples area is owned by a Vietnese ccompany. Bus load after bus load, every day x $37. Going across the border.
      Kind of like the banks here.

    • Tony Veitch [not etc.] 3.4
      19 October 2018 at 3:48 pm

      I will be labelled racist for saying this, and I admit I am generalising – but I am speaking of recent mainland Chinese migrants to this country.

      I lived and worked in China for three and a bit years, so I know a little how they think and feel.

      Their first loyalty is not to New Zealand; it will always be to their homeland.

      Many of them don’t even bother to learn English – they get all their information from Chinese TV and Chinese newspapers, both strictly controlled by the Communist Party.

      We encourage more people like this into our country at our peril.

      In October 1902, the SS Ventnor sank off Taranaki. It was carrying 499 bodies of Chinese who were ‘returning’ to their homeland.

      • KJT 3.4.1
        19 October 2018 at 8:46 pm

        Not always true. I have Chinese immigrants in my family. They love NZ and our way of life.

        Even ex Chinese spies may be here, because they do not like the totalitarian Government in today’s China.

        Just like us, people do not always approve of their regressive politicians.

  4. Grey Area 4
    19 October 2018 at 7:05 am

    An aspect of the current JLRvSB/Chinese influence/NP corruption scandal is the part played by the coalition government in rubber-stamping National’s “honour” for Zhang. The convention that incoming governments approve recommendations from the outgoing one seems another example of a “nudge, nudge, wink, wink” old boys club.

  6. Morrissey 6
    19 October 2018 at 7:34 am

    The Crusher is lying her loathsome arse off right now on television.
    Newshub, Friday 19 October 2018, 7:26 a.m.

    JUDITH COLLINS: I just feel SO SORRY for his wife and family. It’s so appalling…..

    hypocrite n. 1. a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs. 2. a person who feigns some desirable or publicly approved attitude, especially one whose private life, opinions, or statements belie his or her public statements.

  7. Grey Area 7
    19 October 2018 at 7:36 am

    The $1.8b stadium proposed to be sunk into the seabed on the Auckland waterfront will be protected from sea level rise and tsanumis by “modelling”. Are the backers planning to model the stadium on the Ark?

    • Cinny 7.1
      19 October 2018 at 7:52 am

      Some like to think of their own future… wow a stadium imagine the concerts i could go too.

      Then there are those who think beyond themselves…… will a new stadium help NZ’s largest city while the earth is in such a state of climate change?

      Would the ‘ark’ even get insurance?

      Don’t get me wrong the drawings look beautiful, but the practicality…. priorities.

      Rail to the airport please.

      • greywarshark 7.1.1
        19 October 2018 at 9:45 am

        No need, the wealthy will be able to fly their own flight taxi city-airport. I put up link yesterday from Radionz

    • mauī 7.2
      19 October 2018 at 8:37 am

      Stadium Atlantis?

    • Anne 7.3
      19 October 2018 at 9:47 am

      The honours list was all wrapped up well before the last election Grey Area. The process had gone beyond the point where the new government could change anything.

      As someone said to Princess Diana when she expressed reservations about marrying Prince Charles.. its too late now, the commemoration tea towels are in the shops.

    • patricia bremner 7.4
      19 October 2018 at 9:50 am

      LOL

    • SaveNZ 7.5
      19 October 2018 at 10:39 am

      Fuck it, nobody wants that fucked up Stadium apart from developers and council members who take bribes or are terminally stupid Rogernomes.

    • Ad 7.6
      19 October 2018 at 10:59 am

      This is just the kind of move Auckland Council needs to shrink and finally shift the port from Auckland.

      Mt Eden can’t last and would far better as 10,000 apartments.

      • SaveNZ 7.6.1
        19 October 2018 at 2:44 pm

        10,000 apartments = for profits for the private sector. AKA stealing from the ratepayers.
        While screwing over the ratepayer with the Stadium Ark white elephant.

        • Ad 7.6.1.1
          19 October 2018 at 3:11 pm

          10,000 apartments “=” a lot of dwellings that NZers need.

          Quite possibly people will make a profit, which is clearly coming as a shock to you.

          Plenty of debate in the next year at Auckland Council before its determined who gets what out of it.

  8. The Fairy Godmother 8
    19 October 2018 at 7:44 am

    The Jami Lee Ross saga is gone from the front page of the Herald and there is an article way inside. I guess it’s just not as outrageous or shocking as Claire Curran’s emails or David Cunliffes supposed one hundred thousand dollar wine.

    • Incognito 8.1
      19 October 2018 at 7:53 am

      Out of curiosity, what is on the front-page of the NZH? The Auckland waterfront stadium? H & M’s NZ tour? The property market hotting up again?

      • The Fairy Godmother 8.1.1
        19 October 2018 at 8:13 am

        Yes the Auckland waterfront stadium then something about a woman who pulled a bystander from the tracks and a family struck by tragic helicopter deaths then the stadium again. The JLR saga has a two page spread starting on page 10.

        • Incognito 8.1.1.1
          19 October 2018 at 8:29 am

          Thanks. BAU then.

        • Dukeofurl 8.1.1.2
          19 October 2018 at 9:36 am

          Stadium ?
          What a joke, why do these loonies get so much air . They really want to get the go ahead and then on sell the whole development there and in Kingsland to Chinese interests to finance and build.

    • Muttonbird 8.2
      19 October 2018 at 9:53 am

      I think David Fisher needs to to an investigative piece on his own newspaper!

  9. marty mars 9
    19 October 2018 at 8:13 am

    Not just there but everywhere including here?

    Allegations that the agency is understood to be investigating include:

    Exporters are falsely claiming for tens of thousands of tonnes of plastic waste which might not exist
    UK plastic waste is not being recycled and is being left to leak into rivers and oceans
    Illegal shipments of plastic waste are being routed to the Far East via the Netherlands
    UK firms with serial offences of shipping contaminated waste are being allowed to continue exporting.

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/18/uk-recycling-industry-under-investigation-for-and-corruption

  10. marty mars 10
    19 October 2018 at 8:31 am

    Had an interesting one the other day. I found out one of my besties is a climate denier troll who goes to pages to convince people it’s fake by putting links to denier YouTube movies.

    Where I live we have a lot of conspiracy believers. They lap up the anti everything, hate the msm, and so on. They’d love some posts here like bills censorship one.

    Anyway his views are known by me but I had to have a word 😊

    What would you have done?

    • Ad 10.1
      19 October 2018 at 9:01 am

      Crikey.

      Take them to Fox Glacier.
      It’s been declining in the course of our lifetime.

      And while you two are getting there you can pop over to the wetlands and see the white herons and the spoonbills. Damn magical.

      It will be a great trip with which to re-acquaint yourselves, feel nature at its grandest, and of course get to see the glacier retreating 🙂

      • Andre 10.1.1
        19 October 2018 at 9:39 am

        Fox Glacier declining? That’s like describing a Norwegian Blue parrot as “pining for the fjords”.

        In the 70s the walk up to Chancellor hut started with a long stretch of flat ice, then a bit of a scramble past the lower icefall on the little strip of south side moraine between the ice and bush, then cross over on the flat ice between lower and upper icefall.

        Went there a couple of years ago, and the bottom long tongue of flat ice was completely gone, the lower icefall is starting to disappear and what’s left of it was pretty well covered in rock fallen from the moraine. What used to be a little strip of moraine between ice and vegetation now looks like it’s half the hillside because so much ice has gone. Not sure I’ll be able to go back again it was so depressing.

  11. SaveNZ 11
    19 October 2018 at 8:41 am

    Interesting article which looked at 31 countries including Kenya and Gambia and found that the UK had among the weakest public finances of the lot except, Portugal.

    Somber reading for NZ which has adopted a very similar strategy of “fiscal illusion’ and public assets sell offs in government and councils, which like the UK will be leaving the country with long term financial problems when the cupboard is bare.

    “The other big reason for the UK’s financial precarity is its privatisation programme, described by the IMF as no less than a “fiscal illusion”. British governments have flogged nearly everything in the cupboard, from airports to the Royal Mail – often at giveaway prices – to friends in the City. Such privatisations, judge the fund, “increase revenues and lower deficits but also reduce the government’s asset holdings”.

    Throughout the austerity decade, ministers and economists have pushed for spending cuts by pointing to the size of the government’s annual overdraft, or budget deficit. Yet there are two sides to a balance sheet, as all accountants know and this IMF work recognises. The same goes for our public realm: if Labour’s John McDonnell gets into No 11 and renationalises the railways, that would cost tens of billions – but it would also leave the country with assets worth tens of billions that provided a regular income.

    Instead, what this IMF research shows is that the Westminster classes have been asset-stripping Britain for decades – and storing up financial trouble for future generations.”

    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/oct/17/economic-lies-neoliberalism-taxpayers

    • SaveNZ 11.1
      19 October 2018 at 8:44 am

      I guess NZ did not even sell our assets to ‘friends in the city’ but friends of friends offshore from the city, recently China being a big buyer… that must be why our country now has profits’ as our 2nd biggest export our of NZ not goods or services made here. .

  12. SaveNZ 12
    19 October 2018 at 8:51 am

    They have already found (as per link 11 on asset sell offs) that the price that NZ got for it’s power companies sell offs only a few years ago, is now less that the income it would have generated in that time. Thanks, John Key and Meryl Lynch for stealing money off current and future generations.

    … however under Labour Rogernomes, the same practices are still going on… in particular selling off housing land and giving freebie deals to the private sector… to ‘run’ the aforementioned assets which used to be run by housing NZ and councils…. of course with generous parts ‘gifted’ the private or COO, SOE (fudged version of privatisation popular for semantic purposes) to do with as they please without transparency and with plenty of go betweens in the trough.

  13. WeTheBleeple 13
    19 October 2018 at 9:41 am

    I spent a week collecting signatures against the power (fire) sale. That’s freaking heartbreaking seeing the blindly obvious play out and people are still ignorant of it.

    Not only the government missing out there, the bills are horrendous.

    Here’s a bit of recent correspondence between me and Mercury after I complained the bill was jacked.

    01/10

    I can confirm we’ve received your payment of $… made on 03 September 2018, and on top of your weekly payments, we’ve received a total of $… from your bank account over the past month. Unfortunately, this hasn’t covered your bill balances and your account is currently $… overdue.

    You’re currently on our open term rates, however we’d be happy to offer you our discounted rates fixed until 31 March 2020 with no obligations or termination fees, to help reduce your monthly costs.

    Here are the rates Mercury can offer you:

    Electricity plan: Low User – All Inclusive
    Daily Charge: 29.50 c/day
    Unit Charge: 23.69 c/kWh

    These prices are before our prompt payment discount and exclude GST. They include all distribution and transmission charges and the Electricity Authority Levy.

    Based on the prices, your recent bill dated 28 September 2018 would have been $196.18 including GST and the prompt payment discount – a saving of $26.39.

    If you’d like to take advantage of our discounted rates, just let me know and I’ll get these applied straight away.

    In the meantime, I’ve gone ahead and applied a credit of $56.58 for the difference in charges on your two recent bills to help cover the overdue balance. This leaves your account balance at $216.01 due by 19 October 2018.

    You can make paying your bills easier, and save a little more on your bill with an extra 2% discount. When you receive your bill online and pay by direct debit (bank account only).

    Your safety is important to us. Let us know if someone in your house is dependent on power for medical reasons.

    If there’s anything else we can help with please let me know, feel free to chat with us or call us on 0800 10 18 10 Monday to Friday 8am – 8pm. You’ll also find useful info at mercury.co.nz.

    Thanks,

    …, Customer Services

    Hi ….., I realize you yourself are not responsible for the cynical greed from your taskmasters, but you are their representative for hire so sorry but, deal with it.

    Thanks for clarifying the following:

    Now the government has turned its eye on power companies, and in light of a recent scathing article in the Herald: you are pretending to be nice.

    You have been charging me significantly more than you could have been.

    You use this price difference you can give people to try move them into long term contracts.

    You charge less to people who have money (direct debit causes no fear to wealthy of an account slipping into arrears). I pay you via automatic payment not direct debit, but that, although a regular commitment to you, doesn’t count.

    You further favor your wealthy customers over those who struggle with a 10% discount.

    And you send threatening letters to people who already struggle.

    Not good enough. My bill has climbed steadily and significantly for years now. You are gouging the hell out of people and offering me this discount while who knows how many others are being overcharged.

    And let’s not forget the free days you hand out furthering the gap in your service between the haves and have-nots.

    It’s not that I don’t thank you for offering me a better deal. I just now expect you to offer it to all of your customers, especially those on pre-pay systems.

    After sleeping on it, I want to be compensated for all the unnecessary 10% fines over the past 20ish years for being poor. I also want this lower rate you’ve offered above to be applied retrospectively from the date it became available as an option to your customers. I also want everyone else you’ve been punishing for poverty to be reimbursed similarly.

    Sincerely ….

    No reply for a week, then:

    Thanks for getting back to us …., apologies for the delayed response.

    I appreciate your honest feedback, and I completely understand your view point. I’ve ensured that this has been passed on and taken into consideration, as I believe it to be valuable, if not fundamental, to the current structure of the electricity market.

    I’ve applied our discounted rates going forward, however there’s only so much I can do in regards to what I can apply or offer to past accounts or other customers.

    If there’s anything else we can help with please let me know, feel free to chat with us or call us on 0800 10 18 10 Monday to Friday 8am – 8pm. You’ll also find useful info at mercury.co.nz.

    Thanks, …..

    Now, this customer rep was just doing his job. But note how the last letter switches from personal to corporate (I to we). He did well I thought I can be rather confrontational. The corporate worms however, appear to be squirming.

    This is the ‘drop in business confidence’ we hear of; as (some) parasitic practices are being put under the spotlight.

    I encourage you all to write letters to these entities telling them their bills are jacked and see if you get a refund too.

    • SaveNZ 13.1
      19 October 2018 at 10:34 am

      Don’t forget the taxpayers are now giving power companies more profits with the winter fuel payment… wouldn’t it have been cheaper for all to keep the power companies and just have them not running a profit and give out cheaper power to NZ families and businesses?

      Even now since it is sold, where is the free solar for example so that poor people have access to free power rather than waste it on more subsidies for the power companies and of course they elderly that might not actually need that subsidy when poor kids do?

      • Dukeofurl 13.1.1
        19 October 2018 at 10:59 am

        Solar is bad deal for most people- its cheaper to give the extra $30 pw rather than put $12k on the roof that doesnt work 3/4 of the day.

        • SaveNZ 13.1.1.1
          19 October 2018 at 2:46 pm

          Yes if you believe in neoliberal maths. BTW the solar panels that they put on the White House in the 70″s, still working. Wonder how much that $30 plus inflation would work out at over decades in terms of value for money?

          Plus in the age of natural disasters and neoliberal repair cost cutting, very helpful to have a bit of power when the lights seem to regularly go out for days due to power outages – likewise when people start using electric cars…

          • alwyn 13.1.1.1.1
            19 October 2018 at 3:47 pm

            I presume that, if you think EVs are using all the power that should really come to you at a subsidised price you will be picketing the PMs house.
            The taxpayer supplies her with a ridiculously expensive electric car I believe.
            I imagine they will have installed a charging facility.
            That is in addition to the permanent supply of limos on call of course.

            • mac1 13.1.1.1.1.1
              19 October 2018 at 4:05 pm

              alwyn, do you have a link for the PM’s “ridiculously expensive electric car” that you believe she uses?

              I couldn’t find one.

              Did find this though, from last year.

              “Mr English said gradually converting the government’s fleet to electric vehicles showed it was setting an example.

              Transport Minister Simon Bridges said about 85 percent of New Zealand’s energy was renewable, meaning a move to electric cars had positive knock-on effects.

              “What that means is that if you’re filling up here, you’re filling up with home-grown, clean, green energy – and that’s a fantastic thing that means it’s much cheaper to run your vehicle … and also it’s much better for the environment.”

          • mac1 13.1.1.1.2
            19 October 2018 at 3:53 pm

            When a house has an outage caused by a failure in the grid, it is normal practice to shut down the feed of power back into the grid for safety reasons to protect the linesmen!

            Isolating the house from the grid during an outage but still being able to use power generated is an extra cost. Converting solar generated into an expensive battery and then reconverting back into AC for use in the home in the event of an outage loses 10% each way. An expensive back up in other words.

            But you’re right. Solar power installation will pay for itself and provide a good return.

      • Chris T 13.1.2
        19 October 2018 at 11:20 am

        They still could if they wanted to theoretically

        People tend to ignore the fact they only partially sold them and still own 51%

        I suppose “partially sold” doesn’t sound as horrific and shocking as “sold off”

  14. Dukeofurl 14
    19 October 2018 at 10:00 am

    A full transcript the JLR- Bridges recording is now online
    https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/17-10-2018/the-jami-lee-tapes-a-transcript-of-the-ross-and-bridges-donation-chat/

    Its even more powerfull in print, see how Bridges pushes his ‘good friends’ under the bus.
    More interesting how Bridges wants to arrange a dinner in his home for someone who didnt give a single cent in his own name.
    Ross has Bridges knowing about the $100k. It is of course illegal to split donations to avoid the disclosure limits. But the other way is allowed, bundled smaller donations from a group is allowed when its in the name of a single person. ( As happened with the Tony Astle/ restaurant donations)

    Plus the law says the party secretary must return the money if there is reasonable suspicion IN ALL RESPECTS that the use of straw donors has occurred. So peeople the party hasnt heard of suddenly have $14k donations all at once isnt a reasonable suspicion it isnt dodgy

    Nats really exposed on this, so I guess they will quietly return the money and lodge amended return over the ‘mistake’ so that the police can say ‘nothing to see here’

    • SaveNZ 14.1
      19 October 2018 at 10:36 am

      Take Bridges to court, like John Banks, oh of course that one was mysteriously overturned with the US witness that turned up out of the blue. Send the message and change the law so that every donation no matter what amount is publicly recorded.

    • Dennis Frank 14.2
      19 October 2018 at 12:57 pm

      Daily Blog has Trotter’s satire of the Lusk cabal in operation: https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2018/10/19/a-quick-update/ Didn’t load legibly for me but his own site has it here: http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/

      “Of course we’ll look after JLR. No one who stands with me now – even unwittingly – will go unrewarded. This party is going to be lifted – by the scruff of its neck if necessary – out of the mire into which that mincing currency trader led it. If you only knew how much I hated all that “Labour-Lite” poison we were forced to swallow. National’s not here to be the executor of Labour’s will. It’s here to draw out the best, the brightest and the strongest from New Zealand society. You don’t achieve that by being soft – by being weak. You do that by being strong. By not surrendering to the nay-sayers and the nimbys and the bleeding hearts! What was it Machiavelli said: “It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.”

      • Gabby 14.2.1
        19 October 2018 at 7:06 pm

        It was Tiberius, surprised the Trotsker didn’t pontificate upon that at length.

        • Dennis Frank 14.2.1.1
          19 October 2018 at 9:00 pm

          Goddam, you’re a man of considerable historical education! Or else you know how to use google. 😄 Yes, he showed admirable restraint.

  15. ScottGN 15
    19 October 2018 at 10:21 am

    The affluent east Sydney electorate of Wentworth is one of the oldest continuous Federal voting districts in Australia. It was formed shortly after Federation in 1901. It has always been held by the Liberal Party or their predecessors.
    The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting this morning that senior figures in the Liberal Party now concede that it will take a miracle for them to hold the seat at tomorrow’s by-election.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/senior-liberals-say-a-miracle-is-needed-to-win-wentworth-20181018-p50ak7.html

  16. mary_a 16
    19 October 2018 at 10:25 am

    Seven words to describe Natz … corrupt to it’s filthy festering rotten core!

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/107963986/national-officials-must-answer-for-jamilee-ross-coverup

  17. Muttonbird 17
    19 October 2018 at 11:39 am

    They actually manufactured and photo op with a Sikh man. And Bridges flanked by three protectors all day at the A&P show.

    What a laugh.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/107941958/bridges-and-team-put-on-a-show-but-its-not-agricultural-or-pastoral

    • Treetop 17.1
      19 October 2018 at 1:38 pm

      I thought the protection for some MPs was going to increase. I wonder what the cost will be.

      • mac1 17.1.1
        19 October 2018 at 1:57 pm

        The three protectors were fellow National MPs. It pays to read the link before commenting!

        Though what was the cost of those three minders?

        Judith Collins said they were all so busy working they never spotted a rogue MP in their midst! Now they’ve go three on the job. Got all directions covered between the four of them.

        And why three? One to see no evil, one to hear no evil and the third to record it.

        • alwyn 17.1.1.1
          19 October 2018 at 3:41 pm

          They could at least consider their responsibilities.
          One is the local MP. He is guaranteed to be there.
          One is the National spokesman for Agriculture.
          The third is the Associate spokesman for Agriculture.
          Hardly the VIP Protection detail are they?
          Still Muttonbird and Treetop like their fantasies.

        • Treetop 17.1.1.2
          19 October 2018 at 3:43 pm

          It would help were I to read the link.

          I would not exclude paid protection and extra security measures at any function.

  18. gsays 18
    19 October 2018 at 1:33 pm

    I figure cleangreen is distracted,
    Another truck incident that wouldn’t have happened on rail.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/porirua/107960545/truck-carrying-chemicals-crashes-north-of-wellington-closing-state-highway-1

    If they were on to it, they called have called it the start of their planned protests.

    • OnceWasTim 18.1
      19 October 2018 at 6:05 pm

      I saw it this morning. A few things stood out.
      The bend where it rolled is relatively moderate, even though it’s on a downhill stretch, so either the load shifted or the guy was going too bloody fast.
      I was reminded of all those rigs you see on a long distance run stating the vehicle is governed to 90km. The ones that fail to keep left and who travel at 100kph standard.

      I also concerned me (dedication of essential services – fire and emergency aside) that an incident such as this takes more than 12 hours to clean up.
      Acetone and other chemicals are apparently on board and there are various waterways and wetlands in the adjacent area.

      And the trucking lobby still want more and more and bigger and bigger.
      Resurrect rail! More double tracking, re-open closed and mothballed lines, and YES, use smaller trucks for delivery from railheads to customer.

      • gsays 18.1.1
        20 October 2018 at 1:45 am

        I stopped reading the comments after a dozen, too many saying how will goods get to customer if you use rail.

        Such a profound lack of imagination in the populace.

        Campbell started to enquire into couriers and their employment status.
        Trickies seem to be contractors to the company their truck has emblazoned on its side.

        Poor conditions, pay and long hours do not bode well for other road users who are paying for the roading damage the rigs cause.

        C’mon Labour get these trucks off our roads please.aww
        You purchased the train set, now invest and use it.

  19. appleboy 19
    19 October 2018 at 2:01 pm

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12145271

    Hilarious…Herald has a ‘National MP” sticking up for Bridges…his brother in law. You couldn’t make this up!

    • Liberal Realist 19.1
      19 October 2018 at 5:05 pm

      I’d suspect there are quite a few Nats on or near the front bench that have tied their future career prospects to Siomon… such as O’Connor.

      It won’t just be Siomon that’s toast once the dust settles!

      NB: I wonder how national popcorn supplies are faring? Demand must be through the roof!

      • greywarshark 19.1.1
        19 October 2018 at 7:29 pm

        Don’t worry about the JLRvSB row. In NZHerald link at 19 above, the Most Popular item was about USA married teacher having sex with a 14 year old boy, and that’s on the page with Simon O’Connor putting his spoke in for his b-in-law. The dust is settling and normal priorities are resuming.

  20. appleboy 20
    19 October 2018 at 2:21 pm

    An Indian, a Chinese and a Simon go into a bar..Simon says “it’s not what I think. it’s not who I am”.

    • Incognito 20.1
      19 October 2018 at 10:06 pm

      Simon walks into a bar, hands over a $100 banknote to the barman and asks if he can break it down into seven $10 notes and fifteen $2 coins.

  21. joe90 21
    19 October 2018 at 2:31 pm

    I love US attack adds.

  22. Dennis Frank 22
    19 October 2018 at 2:48 pm

    Looks like we can develop a credible conspiracy theory around the Lusk/Ross axis by factoring in a leading contender for the National leadership: Mitchell. Here’s a helpful backgrounder that illuminates his connection with Lusk: https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/19-10-2018/i-am-just-motivated-to-cut-throats-meet-jami-lee-rosss-political-mastermind/

    “When private security contractor Mark Mitchell returned cashed-up from Iraq with an interest in politics, he engaged the one operative in New Zealand whose tactics were as militant: Simon Lusk. Where campaigns in New Zealand have long been run under a facade of civility and fair play, Lusk believes politics is a “brutal and Darwinian” sport in which money and professionalism win above all. It’s cheaper to destroy your rivals than to negotiate with them is his credo. In his one-man crusade against Simon Bridges, Jami-Lee Ross has apparently had at least one person in his corner: a political strategist who thinks best “with a gun in hand and dogs under control” (his profile on The Wild explains that “during the difficult months of April & September when fishing and upland is not possible, Simon shoots deer for the freezer and rabbits and hares off the roof of his Isuzu D-Max”) is the perfect ally. After all, they’ve worked together before.”

    • McFlock 22.1
      19 October 2018 at 3:06 pm

      Whatever Lusk thinks about politics, he couldn’t manage a successful community board campaign and instead stood by as one of his most successful clients killed their career over the resulting sour grapes.

  23. Jimmy 23
    19 October 2018 at 3:05 pm

    One positive thing to come out of this for National is at least we now know who Maureen Pugh is!!!!!!

  24. Fireblade 24
    19 October 2018 at 3:25 pm

    National MPs suspect Jami-Lee Ross taped them in ‘leading’ conversations about Simon Bridges.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/107977498/national-mps-suspect-jamilee-ross-taped-them-in-leading-conversations-about-simon-bridges

  25. WeTheBleeple 25
    19 October 2018 at 4:10 pm

    This is really interesting for the eco inclined: Plant smarter!

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/10/18/282086/fears-billion-trees-drive-could-dilute-manuka-properties

    Sounds totally on point.

    I’m looking into Kowhai endemics and there’s a fair bit of hybridisation there too via domestic planting which likely started with Maori, as who doesn’t want Kowhai to look at they’re gorgeous. I’m basically doing the background work required to plant smarter but on different plants. Shane, where’s my bloody cheque?

    I think range maps of native species are needed to be made easily available (and legible) to public, so we plant with a better chance of native plantings surviving without support, and minimising hybridization except in those intersecting zones one would expect it. We the taxpayer pay a lot of money for science, but rarely are we presented with practical knowledge. Why wasn’t this information widely available before? Protecting $$. Why are we hearing it now? Fear of loss of $$.

    There are sound economic and ecological arguments (I edited out as it went on…) for getting this right. Nothing wrong with making bucks but, planet first, or your money be no good anyway 🙁

    • Draco T Bastard 25.1
      19 October 2018 at 5:20 pm

      Nothing wrong with making bucks

      The profit drive is the first cause of the problem that is capitalism.

  26. Patricia Bremner 26
    19 October 2018 at 4:45 pm

    My current take on things as they stand…

    An examination of all the facts leads to Lusk, and a person on the inside.
    Likely candidates are Collins, previously linked to Lusk through Whaleoil.
    Mitchell linked to Lusk as outlined by Dennis Frank. see above.
    JLR, a party boy apparently assisted by Lusk now. New List candidates ‘Sponsored”
    Another who manages to dodge dirt too easily imo, Michelle Boag.?? The spider web.

    Are these the “like minded candidates” Collins needed for a bloodless coup?
    Add to that, purchased List seats which perhaps explains the “2 Chinese are worth more than 2 Indians” ??? because their politics are known and can be manipulated???

    I may be a million miles away from the truth, but long laid plans call for selflessness and teamwork, both things missing in this and therefore have exposed the rot.

    Bridges, embarrassed to find he is “the front” ’till Judith had the numbers.
    He just didn’t know it ’till the showdown with JLR, when he learned the underlying plan and realised why JLR had been protected by Goodfellow’s gag settlement which gagged the woman JLR targetted , hoping the others (3?) would “keep their heads down”

    How galling that must have been!! Shock and horror and, x 3 embarrassing!!
    Any better scenarios??? Could make a movie!!

    • Dennis Frank 26.1
      19 October 2018 at 5:21 pm

      Seems quite a good take, Patricia. I haven’t attempted a synthesis yet due to new parts of the whole picture continuing to emerge. But I agree, on the basis of the mosaic effect – how the right-brain hemisphere operates – there’s enough to go on for a preliminary version.

      I’d just add, at this point, the context as revealed in Hager’s Hollow Men: an epic war between the ideologues in National and the moderates, which McCully won with Key’s help. Ideology is no longer a factor due to the Brash exit, and Lusk doesn’t operate on that level, so any battle between centrists and the right in National is more likely to just be personality and positioning-driven. The British framed that basic divide in the Thatcher regime as dry/wet but ideology was the reference frame for it then. More tribal now.

      Your reference to “long laid plans call for selflessness and teamwork” identifies the key aspect of group psychodynamics: how to anchor self-interest in the group’s mutual-interests context. Tough when that is defined by tribal instincts rather than belief system! So narcissism can easily fracture the egotist away from their group, and their caucus shows how unanimity is used to exclude the betrayer from the tribe.

      • Patricia Bremner 26.1.1
        19 October 2018 at 6:13 pm

        Yes Dennis, Key had the ability to sell ideas and direction to the group in a way that allowed his personal “on the side” investments to mature, while keeping the “Team” in line. LOL Some must now wonder how that happened!! He was the consumate puppet master. Sadly for Bridges, he was seen to “have clean hands and be a believer.”

        To my mind, the latest tape is JLR following advice, and tends to confirm his ‘playing away’/ bullying to get “pillow talk”…. “he is sorry” … he was caught out!!

      • patricia bremner 26.1.2
        19 October 2018 at 9:28 pm

        I now begin to be certain of the role Goodfellow has in all these scenarios???
        Perhaps he is the inside person.?? The plot thickens. His name keeps coming up.

  27. Liberal Realist 27
    19 October 2018 at 5:00 pm

    The latest in the JLR saga of burning bridges. Another day, another tape!

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/107988220/new-tape-of-jamilee-ross-and-simon-bridges-surfaces

    • Dennis Frank 27.1
      19 October 2018 at 5:29 pm

      Admitting just one affair?? Bridges: “Honestly Jami-Lee if I gave you natural justice on these issues it wouldn’t be four or five, it would be 15.”

      Okay, around half of these are bullying (based on Melanie Reed’s reports). This actual quote, reported for the first time, puts Bridges in a better light. It can be interpreted as a straight account of what Bridges knew, although we lack the tenor of intonation and must allow Ross felt it was blackmail, as he said.

    • Ed 28.1
      19 October 2018 at 5:24 pm

      Not resigning

      • Fireblade 28.1.1
        19 October 2018 at 5:31 pm

        Yep not resigning. He could stay in Parliament and cause trouble for National. JLR says the rules of his game have changed.

      • Dennis Frank 28.1.2
        19 October 2018 at 5:35 pm

        Yeah, interesting that. Richard Harman told Jim Mora’s panel earlier it would be better for him if he stayed till the election. He can maximise his leverage while still in parliament. If Lusk suggested that to Ross too, maybe no by-election?

        • Fireblade 28.1.2.1
          19 October 2018 at 5:47 pm

          There would be no by-election if he doesn’t resign. He would be the Independent MP for Botany, I suppose.

        • patricia bremner 28.1.2.2
          19 October 2018 at 10:46 pm

          Jim Mora’s programme has always been a mouth piece for the right.

  29. outofbed 29
    19 October 2018 at 5:28 pm

    So you disclose a non disclosure agreement when it suits you National ?
    Cynical Bastards

  30. Liberal Realist 30
    19 October 2018 at 5:30 pm

    Nats considering injunction to prevent release of further conversations.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/107976219/national-party-has-strong-case-for-injunction-against-jamilee-ross-if-he-chooses-to-release-further-recordings

    Does JLR have a trump card? He may be forced to release earlier than he (Lusk?) planned…

    • Dukeofurl 30.1
      19 October 2018 at 5:45 pm

      They will have to get around the public interest test.

      Hager released Whaleoils private information and when he went to court, the public interest prevailed- allthough truly personal info was walled off – say like medical info.

      But National has been playing the personal background/medical history card over JLR already.

      They are in an unwinnable situation.

      • Liberal Realist 30.1.1
        19 October 2018 at 6:04 pm

        They will have to get around the public interest test.

        Yep – but no doubt they will try!

        They are in an unwinnable situation.

        That they are. It couldn’t have happened to a bunch of nicer people don’t you think? Karma’s a beautiful thing 🙂

  31. Nick 31
    19 October 2018 at 5:32 pm

    Jlr had an affair with a married MP, This is as weird as Trump world.

  32. outofbed 32
    19 October 2018 at 5:36 pm

    Paula Bennet
    Judith Collins
    Amy Adams
    Nikki Kaye
    Louise Upton
    Jaquai Dean
    Melisa Lee
    Sarah Dowie
    Anne Tolley
    Maggie Barry
    Babara Kruiger
    Parmjeet Parmer
    Nicky Wagner
    Jo Hayes
    Hirante Hipano
    Denise Lee
    Erica Stanford
    Maureen Pugh
    Nicola Wills

    Which one is the odd one out ?

  33. Chris T 33
    19 October 2018 at 5:37 pm

    Just heard an “exclusive” interview with Ross on ZB with HdP

    The dude is sounding like he is gone full delusional.

    I find it difficult to believe his doc said he was fine unless he is a hell of a good actor.

    • Ed 33.1
      19 October 2018 at 5:52 pm

      Worth listening to.
      He says he isn’t leaving.

    • Dukeofurl 33.2
      19 October 2018 at 5:53 pm

      What is delusional ?

      is he talking about things that didnt happen. I dont think so .

      Hes just wrecking the nats because of Bridges used him to win the leadership and then reneged on his promises and then Bridges tried to force him out of the party over toxic relationships which had been tolerated up till then.

      from his point of view its completely logical. Im sure families and business see this sort of thing all the time

      • Chris T 33.2.1
        19 October 2018 at 6:05 pm

        We don’t know they did happen though do we?

        All we have is his grand version of how things work

        His covertly taped conversations and his text messages aren’t exactly proving his claims.

        Though he almost seems to think they say things they just don’t

        • Liberal Realist 33.2.1.1
          19 October 2018 at 6:10 pm

          His covertly taped conversations and his text messages aren’t exactly proving his claims.

          … Yet. Remember, he is likely being advised by Lusk. There is an agenda here, and JLR is just a means to an end. Somehow I reckon Crusher or Mitchell are involved – there is a mastermind and it ain’t JLR (IMO).

          • Patricia Bremner 33.2.1.1.1
            19 October 2018 at 6:19 pm

            Agreed!!

          • Chris T 33.2.1.1.2
            19 October 2018 at 6:24 pm

            I doubt very much either had a master plan to have someone have a mental breakdown, then erratically try to destroy they party so they can lead a mess

            • Liberal Realist 33.2.1.1.2.1
              19 October 2018 at 6:30 pm

              I think you’ve grossly overestimated the loyalty National Party MPs hold with one another.

              Tory’s are a cunning conniving and calculating breed. Just look at the master stroke (if you could call it that) over the ditch by ScoMo playing that fool Dutton like a fiddle. While Dutton was out for dinner with his mates celebrating his success, ScoMo was executing his plan. It worked but very nearly destroyed the Liberal Party and still could force an early election depending on what happens in Wentworth over the weekend.

              • Chris T …
                19 October 2018 at 6:34 pm

                I meant more, why would you want to lead the mess left over?

                They would lose the next election by default and be gone

            • patricia bremner 33.2.1.1.2.2
              19 October 2018 at 9:36 pm

              The party said he was mentally unstable… not a specialist!!
              They hoped to “shut things down”

        • Dukeofurl 33.2.1.2
          19 October 2018 at 6:12 pm

          He claimed Bridges was corrupt over his electorate declaration- which the Nats secretly changed .

          We dont want to look to closely at Bridges claims as leader that havent been too truth full either.

        • Dukeofurl 33.2.1.3
          19 October 2018 at 6:17 pm

          Here we go, Chris still cant except the reality over the $100k donation which Bridges arranged-
          the Chinese assocaition head wont take too kindly to be like the other people pushed under the bus in Bridges comments .
          His ‘friends’, an MP, the partys ethnic list Mps…..

          • Chris T 33.2.1.3.1
            19 October 2018 at 6:21 pm

            I never said there wasn’t

            Read my lips

            His “evidence” Bridges did something dodgy isn’t any where

  34. outofbed 34
    19 October 2018 at 5:51 pm

    Babara Kruigers family is the only one that is known for torturing farm animals maybe ?

  35. Dukeofurl 35
    19 October 2018 at 6:21 pm

    More revelations about before last election when he was Chief Whip

    “I was asked to help exit Todd Barclay because he was becoming difficult for Bill English. Bill English was kept clean. Paula Bennett was pulling the puppet strings. But recordings about him came out and ended up in the media.

    “I was asked by John Key to go in and talk to the donor[a different difficult donation] and see if there was something about the Labour Party that we could find out. John Key and I ended up discussing that later on in text messages.

    “The National Party has now decided to smear my reputation as much as possible. I simply can’t run in a byelection on that basis. I’ve decided it’s more important to continue talking about the National Party.”

  36. Gabby 36
    19 October 2018 at 6:50 pm

    Bingles stayed clean by keeping shtum, maybe that little shit’s going to hit the fan finally.

  37. outofbed 37
    19 October 2018 at 6:53 pm

    Would JLR ‘loose his deposit’ if he stood

  38. greywarshark 38
    19 October 2018 at 10:33 pm

    Victor Gollancz the publisher with others, published books that resisted the rise of fascism between the two World Wars.

    This para from a short bio on him is something that I think TS writers should keep in mind right now.
    …to spread socialist ideas and to resist the rise of fascism in Britain. Gollancz announced: “The aim of the Left Book Club is a simple one. It is to help in the terribly urgent struggle for world peace and against fascism, by giving, to all who are willing to take part in that struggle, such knowledge as will immensely increase their efficiency.”…

    …Victor Gollancz rejected the idea of publishing Homage to Catalonia. In the book George Orwell attempted to expose the propaganda disseminated by newspapers in Britain. This included attacks on both the right-wing press and the Daily Worker, a paper controlled by the Communist Party of Great Britain. Although one of the best books ever written about war, it sold only 1,500 copies during the next twelve years.

    Gollancz had hoped to recruit 10,000 members in the first year. In fact, he achieved over 45,000. By the end of the first year the Left Book Club had had 730 local discussion groups, and it estimated that these were attended by an average total of 12,000 people every fortnight. As Ben Pimlott pointed out: “In April 1937 Gollancz launched the Left Book Club Theatre Guild with a full-time organiser; nine months later 200 theatre groups had been established, and 45 had already performed plays. Sporting activities and recreations were also catered for.”
    https://spartacus-educational.com/Jgollancz.htm

    • Dennis Frank 38.1
      20 October 2018 at 5:58 am

      Interesting, that. He certainly transformed my consciousness, though not for that reason. It was early 1963, I was looking in the window of a second-hand bookshop, Dublin St Wanganui, got intrigued, went in and bought something called science fiction. Immediately addicted, bought a hundred others compulsively in following months, was reading one a day most of the time!

      Gollancz was the name I recall from the jacket of many of them. When folks asked what I was reading & I told them science fiction, they said “what’s that?”. I’d been reading fantasy since even earlier, mid-fifties, and that was even more obscure. Now if you browse popular fiction in a public library, it’s immediately evident that they have displaced novels and thrillers to become the primary literary genres. So Victor G has been extremely influential in his impact on western civilisation in both respects.