One and One Don't Make Three

Apparently, cement is so vital it must be manufactured here. Relying on foreigners is far too risky. Bingo: Fletcher Challenge wins lotto without even buying a ticket. But just down the road, the refinery shutters are up with the for-sale sign on the front lawn.

Relying on imported fuel is not risky. So, we don't need a refinery.

We can do without local fuel, but we must have local concrete. Even if that was true, which it obviously isn't (unless you believe that one and one make eleven), the money should be a loan.

Over the years, successive governments have bailed out Air New Zealand to the tune of $1.3 billion, but they swapped cash for equity. So, now we taxpayers own most of a high-risk airline that goes broker on a regular basis and is a major contributor to catastrophic climate change. Lucky us. Owning a cement factory is slightly smarter than owning an airline, but why are we giving a free lunch to a company that has a track record as impressive as a three-legged racehorse?

Investing in the wool industry would be smart, producing useful climate-friendly goods that replace harmful plastics and employ thousands. But no, like NZ Steel, Fletcher Challenge get free carbon credits to the tune of millions of dollars a year and a $60 million gift as well.

In Taranaki they're planning a $1 billion gas import terminal. The gas is coming from foreigners no different from the ones we don't trust to supply us with cement. We're paying the bill, so we're owed an explanation. Gas and petrol are sourced from unstable tyrannical regimes who go to war with one another on a regular basis. Cement can be purchased from peaceful democracies.

So, shouldn't we import cement and manufacture our own energy?

Even the Green Party agrees.

The Greens have long believed one and one makes seventeen, but they do suggest the billion dollars would be better spent making energy onshore out of on water wind and sunshine.

But then who's talking fair play level playing fields and logic in an election year? Ninety per cent of voters live in the cities, so we country folk are electorally irrelevant, ignored and marginalised accordingly.

The reason the Government is giving money to cement rather than, for example, rescuing the besieged fruit and vegetable growers of Hawke's Bay, is politics and the coming election.

Northland is NZ First territory and National need NZ First to form the next government, assuming they get enough support to be in the running.

Keeping the north happy and safe for the coalition is important, while Hawke's Bay is allocated grumpy agriculturists and no subsidies. Once again, a clear demonstration of politicians prioritising short-term power grabs over the long-term health of the nation.

The question is, will it ever change or will we go sliding down the tables of wellbeing, wealth and happiness as we have done for the last few decades? Current performances from Chris, Chris, Winston, Dave and Chloe say 'don't hold your breath'.

Perhaps there is some reason behind these dodgy deals. There are two sides to every argument.

Years after the event, our community still argues over whether our local policeman was smart or silly when he raided the Pub during the days of six o'clock closing.

Two of the locals dived out the back window and hid in the chook house. Mr Plod tapped on the chook house door with his baton.

"Anyone in there?" he asked.

"Only us chooks," came the reply. "Very good," said the Constable, and he went home.

I'm on his side. My view is that he wouldn't have handed over sixpence as a gift to Cement Co shareholders.

He may not have been good at identifying poultry, but he knew very well that one and one don't make three.

Tim Gilbertson is a community leader in Hawke's Bay.