An envelope... maybe. A supermarket... hardly.
Must... take... transforming potion... feel a... defence of the Diva... coming on.
Yes, Dr Jekyll has nothing on us this afternoon as we feel moved to leap to the defence of the Diva. When we first saw criticism in comments of his not attending the opening of a supermarket, our first reaction here in The Watchers' cave was to snigger unkindly that old line about "attending the opening of an envelope".
Were this the opening of some important civic icon we could understand the criticism. But it's a purveyor of "feminine hygiene products" and bog rolls (albeit perhaps the lure of shelves 3 ply might have been assumed to have posed an irresistible attraction).
In fact it is, as we pointed out when Dotty got all over-excited about it and a few multi-nationals rolling into town, a massive supermarket chain with 56% of the market which uses its might to try to stop a small independent butcher from making "misleading claims" and then gets caught doing exactly the same thing itself.
And as for the presence of the other Great Leader, well that had more to do with the imminence of an election than any regard for Wanganui. Let's keep things in perspective.
What is of import in this matter is the smell of more porkies frying on the Mayoral hot plate. According to reliable witnesses, the Diva was in his office as late as 4.30 that same afternoon. Yet others swear he was in Otago at an awards ceremony. That he was visiting his daughter. That he was "elsewhere in Wanganui". Is this mere speculation, or has the Diva given different excuses to different people? Were any of them true?
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21 comments:
The fact that his car was at council doesn't indicate that he was there (though it's a reasonable inference).
He's becoming almost mythic, like Elvis.
He often leaves his car at council for others to use during the day.
We saw neither car nor Scarlett-Pimpernell like Mayor, but the orginial poster did state Deputy Dot, knowing full well he was at his Council office only an hour earlier...
So, if indeed he was in his office an hour before the excuse was made, he can't have been in Otago at the time of the opening. Unless the Mayoral dunny doubles as a TARDIS.
Anyone care to leak us the relevant page of the Mayoral appointment diary?
Small prob LW>
Both claims - at council and at Otago were a) anon and b) irrelevant.
Was he invited, did he decline, why.
And you're right: I'll accept "because I had something better to do than look at supermarket shelves" as a valid excuse.
What was the PM doing there and how horrid that she arrives in town only for the Chron to go on strike!!!
This is getting us nowhere. The mayor doesn't turn up to a lot of things when people think it appropriate (or part of his job description) that he should do so. We get the impression that common or garden public events are a little too, well, common, for the Diva. Majestic Square hand-over: "I'm no hypocrite" (where to begin?!). Opera night: sent Dot instead. Supermarket, ditto. I'm sure you all have your favourites. He doesn't want the job, "there's no celebrity in it". So why do it, unless simply for ego and trouble? Unfit for office.
"Were this the opening of some important civic icon we could understand the criticism. But it's a purveyor of "feminine hygiene products" and bog rolls (albeit perhaps the lure of shelves 3 ply might have been assumed to have posed an irresistible attraction)"
It is in fact the business of a local family who have grown from generating employment for 20 to over 200 today.
That is why our ( so called) first citizen should have been there. They are also very generous in their support for this community.
Laws was invited, he just could'nt bother going, and sent his "sorry unable to be there " standard rebuff.
...the business of a local family who ... are also very generous in their support for this community.
Fair point. There are decent franchisees (or whatever they are) involved as well as the grasping Foodstuffs folk.
It's all relative, we guess. A longstanding trip to see his daughter - maybe justifiable. Watching telly - well, it wouldn't have hurt to be there. So what was he up to?
What a bunch of crap about Pak n Save creating jobs. They created NONE. All they've done is enter the grocery market and slice the same cake. Woolworths, Countdown, New World are already here and if Pak n Save picks up THEIR customers then they lose income & staff.
Is the mayor meant to attend every business opening? Of course not especially when a new business isn't creating any more business, just rearranging the business that is already there.
Mate, if he'd been home trimming his toenails, it would have been a better use of time.
I'm pissed off that ANY of my council employees attended to support a private business that Wanganui would be no worse without.
Fair call. We criticise Laws for getting involved in local business (a la the inland Port) and then criticise him for not. Opening a supermarket competing against other supermarket (& my couner dairy) is not why I elected him mayor.
I hope he told them to piss off. Of course the Rob Vinsens of thois world will be upset because the Jones' are their mates. That's why deputy Dot was there, I bet because they're her mates too.
Yes, the justification should be on those who attended. Why did you support a business that is overseas-owned and will compete agst local businesses?
How is Wanganui to expand unless there are more supermarkets? How are we going to have a high wage economy unless wages go up? I'm glad these people want our dollars. unless you prefer communism that is. As to "cronyism", well hello, get some realpolitik down ya!
Are you a complete plank?
Its an oxymoron ... supermarkates paying high wages. The average gopher at Pak n Save gets $12.50 an hour. What are YOU on, if you think that's big money??
Are you a complete plank?
well I was trying to be ironic. Frankly the supermarkets are irrelevant to Wanganui's economic powerhouse: creativity.
So we don't care Laws didn't attend then? I'm finding it hard to follow this thread but I'm getting the feeling that this is a first ... we think Laws did the right thing.
(Second for me - thought he was right over that vandal Bergmann too)
If he lied about his reasons for not attending, he did the wrong thing, naughty Michael!
Yeah but no one is accusing him of lying, ya plank. Well noone with any proof. Accusations aren't proof, sport.
So we don't care Laws didn't attend then?
No, what you are supposed to think is...
Ooops, sorry, thought we were the Diva for a minute there.
Yeah but no one is accusing him of lying, ya plank. Well noone with any proof. Accusations aren't proof, sport.
People have advanced three (3) different reasons. Does it stretch belief that the man who says that "lying is acceptable" might have supplied one of these answers? Oh, and , do you know what the word "if" means: no-one has been accused of anything.
Ooops, sorry, thought we were the Diva for a minute there.
You've got those lycra shorts on again haven't you Laws Watch. Ooh you sexy thing.
Lawswatch is wearing more than the emperor.
Actually Laws hasn't given ANY reason for not attending. No-one has asked him.
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