Founded by Max Farndale 1947 - 2018
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The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal that the number of New Zealanders paying the top marginal rate of income tax has grown to 659,000, equivalent to 18.1% of the working population. In 2010, when National last changed rates, there were only 377,000 people (11.2%) paying the top tax rate. Jordan Williams, Executive Director of the Taxpayers’ Union, says, “Under Bill English, the number of people paying the highest tax rate has increased by 75%. The failure to adjust tax thresholds with inflation or average wage growth has meant that Kiwis are being asked to pay higher tax rates without any increase in real income.” “For comparison, in the UK, only 364,000 taxpayers pay the top tax rate, almost half the number of people that pay the top rate in New Zealand despite the UK having a population 14 times larger.” “The change in tax thresholds announced in Budget 2017 fails to address the growing number of people in the top bracket. In a recent report, `Lifetime Tax: Post Budget Update’ our economic staff showed that the largest tax relief from Budget 2017 went to middle and low-income earners. Meanwhile, top earners are asked to shoulder an ever-increasing share of the tax burden.” Key Facts:
| A Taxpayers Union release || July 10, 2017 |||
ROM-Control Pty Ltd has invested in a new state-of-the-art automated testing system designed to enable more complex electronic systems to be analysed and diagnosed in the shortest possible amount of time.
A 10-year-old company, ROM-Control specialises in providing quick and economical repair and refurbishment services for all industrial electronic and control equipment. Committed to achieving customer satisfaction and enhancing their in-house capabilities, ROM-Control constantly invests in new processes and equipment to address the complex and computerised industrial control systems used in most manufacturing and process machinery.
ROM-Control continues to maintain their technological edge with their latest investment – the ABI Boardmaster automated testing system – providing the features and process power to enable more complex electronic systems to be analysed and diagnosed quickly, efficiently and accurately.
Key features and functionalities of the new ABI Boardmaster automated testing system include automated testing and troubleshooting; digital functional testing (in- and out-of-circuit); analogue functional testing (ICs and discrete devices); graphical test generator; live comparison; digital and analogue V-I testing (2D & 3D); analogue matrix V-I; digital IC identifier; EPROM verifier; short locator; digital oscilloscope, digital multimeter, arbitrary function generator, frequency/event counter, universal I/O; and variable power supply.
ROM-Control offers their expertise in repairing and refurbishing industrial electronic control systems to over 900 manufacturers and providers across Australia and New Zealand. As an ISO 9001 Quality Assurance Certified Provider, the company delivers high quality service with a 12-month full guarantee.
Find out more about ROM-Control at rom-control.com.au, email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 1300 766 287.
| A Ferret release || July 10, 2017 |||
Commonwealth Mediaevalist sees recurring Antipodean pattern now supercharged by media-driven Compensation expectations
In the era of pervasive popular communications, asserts Commonwealth mediaevalist Gordon Strong, “it has been seen that the media and the public combine symbiotically in influencing outcomes in a court of law.
“Accusations are far more likely to remain in the public consciousness than subsequent retractions.”
Justice must be done, and seen to be done, noted Gordon Strong in evaluating the current hysteria outbreak in Australia
“The problem now arises when pressure is brought to bear on the judiciary from other, non-judicial, sectors,” he emphasised.
He stressed too that in assessing the current furore over Cardinal George Pell “it will be instructive to examine previous events of a similar stamp.”
He cited the Orkneys ‘Satanic Abuse’ case in which social workers insisted that children had been subjected to demonic practices and which was dismissed as ‘fatally flawed’ by the presiding judge.
Similarly, the Chamberlain Trial / Baby Azaria case of 1980 which “now seems remarkable for the fact that most of the prosecution evidence was later rejected.”
The pillorying in the Baby Azaria case of the defendants by the media, “the ludicrous innuendos, and the disingenuous attitude of the ‘environmental’ officers, resulted in an unedifying spectacle.”
The Chamberlain couple were not fully exonerated until over thirty years later.
“The issue here is not necessarily the guilt or innocence of the parties involved.
“It is the tendency of the media to weigh opinion towards one version of events.”
Child abuse he said is only one of the emotive issues embraced, “almost gratefully,” by the media.
“Such reportage grips the public imagination, and therefore opinion is easily manipulated. “
Cautioned Mr Strong: “It might be argued that in such cases the media encourages and supports victims who might not otherwise have had the courage to step forward with their own revelations.
“Is it possible some proportion of these claims might be spurious?
The immense sums known to have been paid out in compensation in such cases “must surely tempt unscrupulous individuals to take advantage of the situation?”
He added that the media accelerator now routinely draws in another multiplier represented by Hollywood “via rapturously received movies based on these very cases.”
Both the account of the exposure of ecclesiastics in Boston and the Chamberlain trial were dramatised.
In general, observed the mediaevalist, the Cardinal Pell affair seems “couched in mystery,” even without considering the complexity of the internal politics that are a “hallmark” of the Roman Catholic Church.
“It is so far unclear what allegations have been made against this senior official.
“The denial of any wrong-doing by him is simply interpreted in this fevered atmosphere as further proof of his guilt.”
Mr Strong recalled that Pope Francis describes the affair as ‘a mediatic judgment – a judgment of gossip’.
What is equally a cause for concern, noted Mr Strong, is that Australia’s Victoria State police officials publicly speak of ‘a whole range of historical sex offences.’
This he pointed out was a phrase which, stated in isolation, has an ominous ring.
“Undisclosed information held by government agencies always has sinister overtones, as if to imply ‘you are all guilty, if we say so’
Mr Strong said that he discerned an underlying sense of personal triumph being shown by “lesser mortals” in attempting to bring down Cardinal Pell.
He observed too that in the present era of media excitability the more celebrated and powerful the figure the more likely they are to be drawn into a maelstrom of rumour and infamy.
In contemporary times, said Mr Strong, it is evident that having an exalted status in society may in fact be a liability, a lethal burden instead of a blessing.
Somerset, UK, based Mr Strong, the author of numerous books on antiquity, and who recently visited Australia on a lecture tour, pointed out that he was not a Roman Catholic.
He was anxious that researchers into this now apparently recurring syndrome, one on a seemingly accelerating cycle, provided context and background.
Mass hysteria episodes in history, although equally alarming, were not exacerbated by the pervasive universal electronic communications of today.
It was now overdue and imperative claimed Mr Strong that this element became recognised for what it had become---a precipitating and sustaining component of contemporary outbreaks of mass hysteria.
| From the MSCNewsWire reporters desk || Monday 10 July 2017 |||
Today signals 50 years of decimal currency in New Zealand and the Bank is marking the anniversary with a new display in its Museum and Education Centre.
This coincides with a new Bulletin article titled “A litmus test for society: Reserve Bank decimal note designs 1967-2017” which traverses New Zealand’s currency as it showcases national and cultural identity. It is accompanied by a downloadable timeline poster showing all seven series of Reserve Bank notes released since 1934.
Reserve Bank Governor Graeme Wheeler said “This milestone is a great opportunity to reflect on a point in time and see how our banking has evolved and how our money has changed over the years.
“Despite the growth in electronic payment systems, cash in circulation continues to grow and I expect cash, as a means of exchange, to be around for a long time yet. However, we do need to understand more about what drives our use of cash and this is the theme of some research the Bank will soon undertake.”
Highlights of the Museum and Education Centre display include:
• a screen display of the original television and radio advertisements and jingle featuring ‘Mr Dollar’, the character created to bring the decimal currency into New Zealand households • footage of the first distribution of currency to the banks prior to launch day • education and publicity material including a Dollar Scholar certificate and quiz • early coin designs • artist’s preliminary layout for the $100 banknote • the story of the Bahamas Mule, a minting error of the 2 cent coin.
“Reading through the material and watching the footage you get an understanding of how different our operations were run back then,” said Mr Wheeler.
The Museum and Education Centre is open to the public from Monday to Friday 9.30am – 4.00pm.
More information • Bulletin article: “A litmus test for society: Reserve Bank decimal note designs 1967-2017” • Mr Dollar video • Currency timeline poster
| A RBNZ release || Monday 10 July 2017 |||
Lets relate the ROI from the purchase of a Test Ticket during the Lions series in monetary terms.
The rugby - intense in all 3 tests - an ok return
Officialdom - substandard, irratic - under performing, changes required
Inventory Meddling - In-house ruling reduces return potential threatening future investment levels [. . .]
Max Farndale: 10 July 2017
Palace of the Alhambra, Spain
By: Charles Nathaniel Worsley (1862-1923)
From the collection of Sir Heaton Rhodes
Oil on canvas - 118cm x 162cm
Valued $12,000 - $18,000
Offers invited over $9,000
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242
Mount Egmont with Lake
By: John Philemon Backhouse (1845-1908)
Oil on Sea Shell - 13cm x 14cm
Valued $2,000-$3,000
Offers invited over $1,500
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242
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