The Age from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia • Page 12

lt TWAM MONDAY 2 NOVEMBER 1992 Letters to the Editor Edited by EILEEN BERRY If this Is the reality of racing, why to it that the media 'The Age' Included ignores such realities and merely play back the Access Age Alcohol problems come from moderate drinking 670 1601 Access letters must be no more than 50 words. Lines are open between 8 am and noon, 1 pm and 4 pm weekdays. i Peasants entitled to revolt and public health field are calling for some, rather small I might add, increase to the taxation level on alcoholic beverages, excluding though, light alcoholic beverages. The grounds behind this proposal are based on substantial public health evidence suggesting that even a small price increase would lead to significant decreases in the per captia consumption of alcohol and thereby lead to a reduced amount of alcohol related harm overall. Collected revenue could be used to fund Important preventive, health promotional and treatment areas.

We are certainly not "anti-alcohol zealots" as appears to be alleged by the article but we fully concur that "moderation Is the message''. Many people don't realise that within our population, most alcohol problems occur among people whose consumption is only moderately elevated rather than the much smaller percentage who are regarded as There does appear a statistical association between moderate alcohol consumption and reduced cardiovascular risk status, however, this does not prove that the former causes the latter. Indeed, It may be that moderate drinkers behave differently in other important lifestyle areas (for example, how much they exercise, their diets, and so on) conferring reduced cardiovascular risk. Michael McDonough, Box Hill. ive community.

We have good schools, an excellent shopping centre, medical centres and most of the facilities that you would expect to find In larger centres, including an airport The Government continually talk of expensive steps they will take to create Jobs but they are letting jobs slip through their fingers. I don't understand why the Government can't think the problem through as I believe that our situation is a classic example of what is happening in many other factories around the country. This is our approach to the problem: Problem: Thai imports displacing Australian canned tuna. Why: Because Thai labor Is cheaper than Australian and Thai manufacturers obtain Government subsidies. Australian canneries pay taxes, calculated on their payroll.

Solution: Increase the duty on canned tuna from developing countries to 24 per cent in line with the duties payable In developed European countries. Result: Jobs are secured in the Australian industry at no cost to the Australian taxpayer. It should be noted that Australia imposes a 5 per cent tariff on imported tuna from Thailand. In turn Thailand imposes a tariff in excess of 60 per cent on imports of canned tuna from Australia. If our solution was adopted we would indeed create a level playing field and reduce unemployment and improve business confidence.

Tonl Drummond, Eden, NSW. Too afraid to register complaint from J. Ely, community lawyer, I Western Suburbs Legal Service We write regarding the Govern- ment's decision to scrap transit patrol officers. Young people in the western suburbs are forced to use public transport frequently because they have no cars; they travel long dis-tances to school and entertain-! ment facilities are sparse. This legal centre has received many complaints about the behav- Jpr of some transit police.

Young people report being assaulted, ver- abused, falsely charged with offences, fined for no proper rea-: son and having officers search their homes without warrants. In addition young people have reported being held in custody for many hours, and in at least one case most of the night, without being permitted to ring their ents. When, and if, the young people formally complain about their treatment, they are further harassed and intimidated. Conse-; quently many of them are too afraid to register their complaints. I A sergeant with the transit patrol is reported to have said the stress of uncertain futures had caused colleagues to freak down and cry in his office" ('The Age', 2810).

A parent of a young teenager held in custody by armed patrol officers for many hours recently broke down and. cried in this office as a result of the treatment he and his son had received at the hands of transit patrol officers. If the situation for young people from the western suburbs using public transport is to improve, the police who are destined to take dver the patrol role must be prop-' erly accountable. This requires, among other things, an effective, independent system for handling complaints. Such a system does not exist at present.

Jean Ely, Newport. Human sexuality a two-sided coin from R. Saunders think it is time for women to take I 'responsibility for their part in the creation of sexual violence. It is easy to blame it all on men, to say ri nype aoout tne wnoie circus? Racing Is part of the biggest industry In this country gambling yet we rarely get the type of dispassionate analysis of gambling that we get of other industries. Setting aside the fairly Innocuous lotteries, there is a strong case for saying that the overkill of gambling we have in this country poker machines, casinos, racing has substantial often negative effects upon our community.

How about some answers to the big questions regarding gambling, such as: What are the social Impacts? How bad is the compulsive gambling problem? Is it true that casinos (zoned in residential areas, unlike any other country in the world) have had a disastrous impact upon some families? Is it true, as ABC radio reported last week, that school tuckshop revenues have declined with the advent of pokies? What are the economic impacts? Is saving and investment compromised in a country where gambling consumption Is endemic? If Clever Countries make their own luck, can a Lucky Country become clever if gambling erodes motivation with the subtle messages of "she'll be right" and "you don't really have to try, something will turn What are the class impacts? Who are the mugs and who are the kings In sports of kings, for example? Who makes money out of whom? What are the sex-role impacts of phenomena such as fashions in the field? Sociologist Thorstein Veb-len pointed out long ago that the conspicuous consumption of females in wearing ostentatious but highly impractical clothing sent out the message that the wives of economically successful males did not have to work. Is this the message today's women want to send? What is the Impact of organised crime on the gambling industry? Answers to these would provide some excitement and fever. Baden Eunson, Bentleigh. and researchers seeking specific from Or M. McDonough, director.

Drug Alcohol Unit, Box Hill Hospital While no one could disagree with the title of Tina Skolnik's recent Epicure article (Moderation is the Message, 1310) I do, however, disagree with the assumption that the quoted McNair Anderson study of October 1989, is correct. This suggested that 98.4 per cent of Australians who drink wine regularly do so within recommended health limits (NH and MRC). The weight of evidence from the Alcohol and Public Health literature suggests this study is somewhat suspect. Furthermore, one should be cautious about making conclusions on the basis of any one study. Many of us working in the alcohol "its their and that men are perverted, aggressive and obsessed with sex.

It seems that many women take these attitudes, and some are demanding heavier punishments for sexual offenders (including castration). But human sexuality is a two-sided coin: at the same time as women are condemning sexual violence in the community, many women are actively exploiting sexuality for money, power, fame, attention, or just the old ego-boost. They freely (I see no twisted arms) exploit their bodies in cinema, television, soapies, advertising, magazines, newspapers and in fashion, thus constantly reinforcing the image of women as sexual objects. From celebrities like Madonna and Cher; to women who dress In mini-skirts, high heels, tight-jeans, see-through, low-cut, backless, etc, etc; in big ways and in little ways, women continue to display their intimacy in public. The end result is a constant series of provocative images flashing before men's eyes, through the media, on the street, in social life, entertainment and the workplace.

If women really want to raise their image above that of dumb sex objects, and to see less sexual violence in the community, I suggest that they stop blaming men, take responsibility for creating their own image, and learn to express their femininity in modest ways. Ray Saunders, Venus Bay. Praise for super crackdown from D. A. H.

Temple, secretary MCEGS Pensions 'The Age' editorial (2310) quite rightly praised the Government moves through the Insurance and Superannuation Commission to crack down on superannuation fraud. The Government has indicated doubling of funding and staff for this body to expand its function as the superannuation watchdog. As the secretary of a small private sector fund, the costs involved in funding the ISC are already substantial and likely to grow. The cost of lodging ISC annual returns for which we receive no more than a certificate of compliance, has increased from $50 to $1760 to $8800 in successive years. It is hoped that the ISC will be sub ject to appropriate financial dlsci-plines in discharging its responsibilities.

Whatever the pro-' spectlve benefits, the recent cost increases do not augur well for those superannuation funds that are efficiently and honestly administered. David Temple, South Yarra. Change free trade vision from T. Drummond The Australian tuna canning industry will cease to exist unless the Government changes its free trade vision. It is almost as if the Government is determined to see our industry disappear.

We are already working a four-day week. The Greenseas cannery has been the mainstay of Eden and surrounding districts for the past 50 years. Generations of residents have relied upon it for their livelihoods as have fishermen, local business and fishermen's co-ops. The cannery has allowed the development of a stable support Sweating from Cup Fever from B. Eunson Yesterday, while walking past the local TAB, I was suddenly knocked over with a blast of excitement and glamor emanating from the Spring Racing Carnival taking place Inside.

Picking myself up, I noticed I was sweating from Cup Fever. I jest of course: the shop and its denizens were as sad and desolate as ever, and the fever was not contagious. A service for readers information. The house tax represents one per cent of my assets. Wilt Thatcher's apprentice and his mates also pay one per cent? I think not.

The peasants are entitled to revolt. Katberlne Gizyckl, Kensington. Loading for shift workers The 17 per cent holiday loading was originally introduced for shift workers, like wharf laborers and weekly wage earners who lost opportunities for earning overtime during their holidays. People like teachers, bank staff, government employees and so forth, on yearly salaries, were never morally entitled to holiday loading. Muriel Bloomer, Drouin.

Thatcher in trousers Coalition voters have only themselves to blame. Unfortunately, thanks to them, the rest of us are now saddled with a Margaret Thatcher in trousers. Irene Kinsman, South Yarra. Red to the tune of $9000 Maybe the Europeans can afford their leave loadings. Maybe they are not in the red to the tune of $9000 for every man, woman and child of their populations.

Chris Armstrong, Croydon. Show some sensitivity While realising the need for harsh measures, I find the $100 across the board levy on property particularly stupid and inequitable. Back to the drawing board Mr Stockdale and show some sensitivity in fine tuning this measure. As to Mrs Klrner and CO, Face to face with red tape madness from G. Fisch! The bureaucratic madness, which is costing thousands of jobs and destroying industries that have been viable for decades and employing thousands of Australian workers, just goes on.

The Australian Customs Authorities have just published a Dumping Notice No. 92186 on heavy buffalo leathers used for industrial footwear. This buffalo leather is used by each and every one of the remaining industrial footwear manufacturers in Australia. Thus they are being deprived of a raw material that is unobtainable in this country at competitive prices making them totally uncompetitive against imports of uppers and finished footwear flooding In from the cheap labor markets of the Third World countries. The madness, and there is no other word for it, is that finished uppers out of the same Indian material on which a dumping duty has been Imposed, are coming in at the rate of five per cent duty, whereas the leather itself carries a duty of 10 per cent plus now a dumping duty.

How many jobs will be lost on top of all the others lost Tariffs 0405 they had the chance to put up, now they should shut up, Michael Hauptmaa, Caulfleld. Paid in blood for rights Our grandparents paid in blood for our union rights. Good on you John Halfpenny. Donna Murdoch, Thornbury. Don't bet on Cup Here is a small but easy way of protesting against the Kennett Government: don't bet on the Melbourne Cup.

You will save, your money and avoid a symbolic amount of state tax. Damlen Browh, Preston. Most literate economist Good news for Victoria? As a long standing follower of Alan Kon-ler's columns, I believe that we have as the new editor of 'The Age' a most literate economist who knows the difference between the free (sic) and the social market. Will we now enjoy the best economic journalism in Australia? Norma Grieve, Hawthorn. Fresh ideas please When State Parliament opened we hoped that appropriate ceremonies would accompany new and fresh ideas.

But if the ridiculous looking wigs and breeches are any indication, the clock will be pulled back considerably. Wigs and breeches, attires of the oppressing ruling classes, were publicly burned in most countries 200 years ago. Cor Kramer, Broadmeadowj. already? How are the local manufacturers supposed to compete if this Government deprives them of the only source of cheap rhw material that is available to them? Is It the aim of this Government to totally destroy the Australian Footwear Industry which has served so proudly and well generations of Australians over so many years? Another example of blatant bureaucratic madness is the situation that confronts the leftovers of what was once a thriving industrial glove and apparel manufacturing industry. Today the few remaining factories are forced by our bureaucrats to pay a IS fler cent duty for the raw material that is being used in the local production, whereas the finished product from Third World cheap labor countries is coming in absolutely duty free.

Would it be too much, to ask why an Australian manufacturer employing workers Is penalised by 15 per cent for trying to stay In business and give employment to Australian I challenge the minister to publicly explain the reasoning of his department in this matter. Is it really worthwhile for anybody to engage in any manufacturing activity in the face of such bureaucratic madness? Gerard Flschl, Waterloo, NSW. $24.16 $81.92 $24.16 $81.92 FORMER NURSES: 7 RAANC CMF reminiscences, photographs, memorabilia of this unit sought from former nurses tor a history. Contact Ms Margaret Sttckland, 3 Kinsley Court, Belmont, 3216. DUND AS: Contact sought with descendants of Alexander Dundas who arrived in November 1852 on the ship Ticonderoga at Port Philip.

Contact Mr Noel D. Allen, 40 Northam Road, East BenUeigh, 3169. SOPERMOSERFRASER: Contact sought for historical research with great-grandchildren of Caroline Soper (nee Reward, born 1858 died 1891) and Baptist minister John Allied Soper (born 1855 and died 1912). Arrived Sydney from UK on ship Ann Duthie and travelled lo Melbourne on the City of Adelaide in January 1883. SoperMoser-Fraser great-grandchildren contact Mr Tom Griffiths, 8 Alister Street, North Fltzroy, 3068.

Tel: 481 4996 or 669 9002. LEWIS: Information sought on descendants of Alfred Amos Lewis and his wife Roseina. Their family were: Daisy Florene, Rose Evelyn, Violet Ester, Alfred Amos, Lilian May, Cardie Ethel and Myrtle Gwendoline. Mr Lewis, a former mining engineer, was a resident of Richmond and died In 1994 aged 88 years. Contact Mr Robert Daniels (Mr Lewis's great-nephew), 10 Penang Street, Point Clare, NSW, 2290.

OVERLANDERS: The Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame seeks contact with descendants of people whose ancestors were outback pioneers. Write with details of their ancestors adventures and achievements to The Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame, GPO BOX 1. Brisbane, QLD, 4001. Tel: 07 221 9300. Fax: 07 221 4684.

Descendants will receive InvitaUons to Pioneers Dinner on 2 April 1993 at the Brisbane Hilton Hotel. Gas and Fuel Corporation of Victoria Natural Gas Division Gas Tariffs Natural gas consumers are hereby notified that the following new tariffs will apply to meters scheduled to be read on and after 8th January 1993 for all domestic customers. Domestic Tariffs (per meter per two months) RESIDENTIAL BULK HOT WATER MASTER METER (Tariff 04: Meterregulator capacity up to SOm'h) (Tariff 05: Meterregulator capacity over 50mVh) SuddIv Charee (Der two months): ranniM TariffOS Commodity Charge: Tariffs 0102 MULTIPLE RESIDENTIAL (Tariff 01: Meterregulator capacity up to 50m'h) (Tariff 02: Meterregulator capacity over 50m7h) Supply Charge (per two months): TariffOl $24.16 Tariff02 $81.92 Commodity Charge: All gas 9 0.8246cMJ Tariff 03 DOMESTIC GENERAL Supply Charge (per two months): $10.46 Commodity Charge: First 8000 MJ 9 0.7436cMJ Over 8000 MJ 9 0.8553cMJ All gas 9 0.8245cMJ Tariffs 1011 BULK SUPPLY TO FLATS FOR STORAGE WATER HEATING (Tariff 10: Meterregulator capacity up to 50m'h) (Tariff 11: Meterregulator capacity over SOm'h) supply wnarge (per iwo montns): Solutions. That's what we offer Australian business. AGC offers prompt, professional advice and a range of financial services that include: Leasing or asset purchase of equipment and vehicles Business loans secured by stock and debtors Factoring of debtor invoices Fleet finance with management expense controls Finance for real ejstate aquisition and development AGC is providing the solutions Australian business needs now.

For further information ask at any AGC branch or phone us today. lann iu Tariff 11 Street, Melbourne 3000. Commodity Charge: Allgaa 9 0.8939cMJ Notes (1) The above tariffs are per meter per two months. (2) In all tariffs the Supply Charge la the minimum bill. (3) Where consumers are billed other than on a two-monthly basis, the Supply Charge and the block sites for the Commodity Charge are adjusted accordingly.

(4) cMJ centa per megajoule. (5) m'h cubic metres per hour. Other Tariffs Tariff 09 (Gaa Light Tariff) has been increased by 10. All other published tariffs (Commercial and Industrial Tariffs) are unchanged. Important Information for Consumers (1) The Eaay-Way Payment Plan for instalment payment of domestic gaa accounts is available to all domestic consumers.

(2) Further information concerningall natural gas tariffs and the above items is available from the Customer Relations Department, Head Office (telephone (03) 662 6122), or any Corporation branch office. Qas and Fuel Corporation of Victoria NSW (02) 842 JJ33 VIC (03) It's Australian for Finance 640 6611 QLD (07) 896 7333 SA (08) 235 5333 WA (09) 425 6222 TAS (002) 35 6400 NT (089) 81 4633 171 Flinders WM113TMmMllWNttFCB.