Kokako road

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 486, 18 May 1993, Page 4

Kokako road

• Re the so-called Kokako road issue. I guess as editor you sometim.es receive criticism for some of the views expressed in your paper. People should realise you are only printing information that has been passed on to you. Being a close bystander to the above issue I feel I am able to clarify matters. The real issue is that Mr Rawnsley is purely the meat in the sandwich between two of his neighbours. Since Mr Rawnsley refused to join in a feud by barring one of his neighbours from access through his (Mr Rawnsley's) property, the Kokako road issue has flared up. Mr Rawnsley has steadfastly refused to be blaokmailed. As to Ken Malcolm, it's all very fine for him to support his relations in their feud, but his letter to the Bulletin on 4 April was nothing more than a load of non-fac-tual, rhetorical rubbish. Look at his statement: "... blatantly carrying a rifle across his knees on a four-wheeler in a very intimidating manner." I can hardly imagine a less intimidating manner of carrying a rifle on

a four-wheeler. Mr Malcolm also doesn't mention his (Mr Malcolm's) mate doing the sabre dance with a machete! (Oops, excuse the rhetoric). As to Stuart Shaw's article on the issue, 20 April, I was present on the day Mr Shaw visited the Ruatiti to check out the various claims being made on the matter. He came here on behalf of Ken Malcolm and Jim Davis! Mr Shaw left our area firmly believing in the justice of Mr Rawnsleys stance on the issue. I believe that if there are a few more councillors on the Ruapehu District Council of Mr Shaw's quality this problem will soon be solved and we all down here can get back to being good neighbours.

James

Creedmore