Manaia lau Toyota ae Manaia foi lau Holden

Written by Seuamuli Des Bentin
Tuesday, 02 October 2007
I am not clever enough to be cynical but thankfully lack just the right amount of intelligence to be sarcastic. It was a skill my Lupe ole So’aga pig-hunting mates referred to as “fa’amasima”, and, if I may say so myself, I am pretty damn good at it! It has been a funny old week really watching the news on television and reading what people had to say in the newspapers with some blunt accusations, strong opinions and revealing confessions. I never realized that I was a neo-fascist until I read someone’s response to my good friend Mika Kelekolio’s column last Thursday. According to an alarming number of letters to the editor in our major newspaper, whoever is trying to push through any change such as the proposed switch to right hand drive vehicles must have been paid a lot of money, or stand to make a lot of money, when these changes do come about. I have already stated my position on this issue. I am a selfish swine really. I like the look of that SS-V Series Holden Ute. But where or how can I get someone to pay me an undisclosed but preferably large amount of money to sell the switch to right hand drive vehicles through this column as a good idea? I think we have to be very careful here that we are not so cynical and distrustful of each other that we spend all our time and energy looking for imaginary selfish reasons why people do things and miss the panoramic view of the wider picture. After looking at the arguments from those opposed to the proposal, making sure to steer clear of the vitriol, I think Mika The Tiavi Kid missed a couple. Someone threw the in vogue “Green” or environmental impact argument into the mix. It is a very good point. Now whoever is writing up the proposed Bill can make sure that the necessary restrictions are written into it to make sure that Aunty Peka at Pakuranga or Aunty Okila from Otara does not load any old reject into the nearest container bound for Samoa. I thought it was interesting that some people were concerned about an influx of supposedly environmentally unfriendly vehicles but haven’t said anything about those still on the roads here. I am not sure what the depreciation rate is but if it is at 20% for example, then if you do the mathematics like David the Accountant does, the second hand car market made up mainly of ex-commercial vehicles should not be at the current prices. But we do not have a choice, yet. And all those dead or dying cars do not go on artificial reefs but will make the scrap metal industry a viable proposition. I think the current thinking concerning dead cars is that they are much better off rotting away as decorations for the family home surroundings than to be carted off to the scrap metal dealers who will only make money from it. It has been lively if a bit one-sided debate because those of us who agree with the switch probably think that they do not have to publicly show their support for something they already know is good. Or it just might be that there aren’t that many of us out there who agree. The main objection is the lack of consultation. We are world famous for our village council consultation process. Business decisions sometimes can’t wait for the village council type consultation process. You don’t think this is a business decision? Like building all those sporting facilities we were so proud of for two weeks was just a sports decision? Get in there and have your say by all means. The media will play its part in informing our leaders and decision makers where the ‘finagalo’ of the majority lies. And then they will hopefully reconsider if you’re against, or hopefully try and convince you otherwise, if you’re for the proposal. I am a simple lad and try to keep things as simple as possible. These are the questions I ask myself. What is our main export? People! What is our main source of income? Remittances! What is likely to be our main problem over the next five years? Overpopulation! We can’t ship people offshore fast enough on short term fruit picking or luxury liner contracts. I don’t think anyone here would dare to suggest a ‘one child per couple policy’ like some countries did to control population growth. We must create more jobs here. Overpopulation with unemployment is not a pretty picture. You could argue that we should spend the money required for the switch to right hand drive vehicles on job creation without changing the side of the road we drive on. That is also a good point. But I am a Holden man, remember? Have a nice one folks! Comments (0) Subscribe to this comment's feed Write comment Name Email Title Comment
Last Updated ( Thursday, 08 November 2007 )

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