Host nest feathering

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 15, Issue 694, 8 July 1997, Page 2

Host nest feathering

Mr Squires seems to have found a lot of peo ple to criticise our local shopkeepers. Our com-

munity is not like others. We do know everybody. We are a close-knit family community with a lot of struggling families out there and find Mr Squires criticism of local business a non-kiwi way to rake up business for himself. I point out that Mr Squires business is to run Kiwi Host courses for people who wish to go on them and I compliment him for doing so. His courses are a good system of education, just like many courses I have attended in my lifetime. ■ I will point out that these courses are Mr Squires' source of income (business) and he should not be out criticising business people in our community because they do not wish to attend his courses. We in business have budgets we run to and every time a staff member starts we will pay Mr Squires to educate them into the retail sector (good idea for his business). But we are business people too. We all know how difficult it has been in the Waimarino area of the past few years. Just look around at the businesses that have closed in Raetihi. The BNZ bank, accountants, clothes shop, furniture shop, chemist, etc. etc (would Kiwi Host keep them alive?). Also due to the down-turn in the farming economy businesses are closing because of less and less money in the community. It has cost some Raetihi businesses a lot of cash-flow to build on the services that have disappeared from our community and still try to be as competitive as possible so their customers are not feeling they are being overcharged for their goods or services. For the small population of Raetihi and the number of locals who do shop in town, as a business person I applaud those people. Mr Squires could turn to the next page from his letter and read the Waimarino Community advert by Ruapehu Bulletin on how to "Feather Your Nest". I think the Ruapehu Bulletin has got it right.

Dave

Cawsey,

Pricecutter