There’s no “only” about the bank’s money

Stealing from an individual is theft, so is stealing from an institution but the reaction to the case of the couple who absconded after taking millions of dollars that were mistakenly credited to their account suggests not everyone thinks so.

The news has spread around the world and The Guardian has a comment by the editor of The Philospoher magazine Julian Baggini  who says:

People say such cases create “moral dilemmas”, but there are none. Taking the money is just wrong. You know it’s not yours and you could easily not take it. The only dilemma is whether to do the right thing or give in to temptation. Of course, it’s not difficult to invent spurious justifications. Some say the bank made the mistake so it should pay the price. That’s like stealing a car and saying it’s the fault of the owner for leaving the keys in. Others perversely descend into the ditch of self-serving mendacity and pretend they’re occupying the moral high ground. The banks are thieving, lying bastards who have spent all our money, they cry, so it’s only fair that we steal it back. WWRHD? (What would Robin Hood do?) Put it like that and it almost seems as if theft is your duty.

So we forget all the times we’ve said “two wrongs don’t make a right”. We forget that principled civil disobedience is carried out in public, not as secretly as possible. We forget that the answer to WWRHD? is that he’d give it away to the poor, not go on a spending binge. Most of all, we forget how quick we were to condemn politicians for milking their expenses, albeit legally, just because they could.

There is no moral complexity here, only a simple truth of human nature: that something that seems very wrong can quickly and easily seem very right, if it suits us.

He might be right but the behaviour isn’t, although that view isn’t supported by a disturbing number of the commenters at The Herald who think it’s okay because it’s “only” a bank.

But it’s not “only” the bank’s money. It’s the money of the customers and shareholders who will pay one through higher charges and lower dividends for the costs of the theft.

I concur with Barnsley Bill  who asks how did we get to be so dishonest?

Culinary Central

A Central Otago farmer enjoyed dinner was so effusive in his praise of the meal he’d eaten at a London restaurant that the waiter brought the chef and the restaurant owner out to meet him.

In the ensuing conversation the farmer discovered the chef had trained at Cromwell. The owner added that his only fault was that he’d only work with the best cuts of meat.

Cromwell? Yes, at Otago Polytechnic’s Cromwell Campus  which delivers a variety of courses including turf management, stone masonry, viticulture and hospitality.

The farmer mulled on the conversation with the chef and the importance of ensuring the trainee chefs worked with good cuts of meat so when they graduated and went to work around the world they would use New Zealand beef and lamb.

That mulling eventually led to a dinner at the polytech’s Molyneaux restaurant last night, cooked by trainee chefs and served to the Southern South Island Sheep & Beef Council and guests, two of whom were my farmer and me.

We were served a degustation menu, five little courses of delicious food, beautifully presented and matched with wines.

Italian lamb loin with beetroot pinot jelly, horseradish cream, micro greens and shaved parmesan accompanied by Quartz Reef Methode Traditional.

Consomme of beef en croute with barley, red pepper and broad been accompanied by Bannockburn Road Pinot Gris – which is produced by Cromwell students.

Ravioli with ox tail and mushrooms accompanied by a Bendigo Syrah from Aurora Vineyard.

Herb and macadamia nut crusted rack of lamb with fondant potato, steamed broccolini and braised short rib with a Bannockburn Road Pinot Noir.

Duo of white and milk chocolate delice with a saffron Anglaise and pistachio tuille accompanied by a 2006 Late Harvest Riesling.

The chefs are only a third of the way through their training. The meal they served us was a feast for the eyes and the taste buds and left the diners satisfied but not over full.

If they can do so well this early in their training, they will be wonderful ambassadors for our produce when they are in their own kitchens in which ever corner of the world their careers take them.

What’s holding them back?

The statistics supporting the business case for having women on company boards  are compelling:

For companies in the top 25% (of highest women’s representation on the board) the return on equity was 53% higher; return on sales 42% higher; and return on invested capital is 66% higher than companies in the bottom quartile.

Of course statistics tell only part of the story – it’s possible that these companies performed better in spite of the women on the board rather than because of them.

It’s also possible that having women on a board is a sign of the intelligence and foresightedness which results in a well run and high performing company.

But regardless of the story behind those stats it does seem strange that women make up 46% of the New Zealand workforce but hold only 8.65% of directorships on the NZX top 100. Just 45 women hold 54  of the 624 board positions available and 60 of the top 100 boards have n0 female directors.

That’s been recognised by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, The Institute of Directors and Business NZ who launched a joint initiative last night to promote the economic benefits of having more women on boards.

A lot of women are actively involved in private rural businesses. Many farms are husband and wife partnerships, so are a lot of the small businesses which support farming and Rural Women’s Enterprising Rural Woman Award highlighted some of the successful rural businesses run by women.

There are plenty of urban business women too so it’s not lack of skills and experience which is holding them back.

The April edition of Next magazine opened a story on the issue with this:

The chairman of a large Kiwi agricultural company is asked why there aren’t any women on his corporate board.

“There’s no place for sheilas in this conservative, provincial boardroom, apart from making the tea,” is his gobsmacking response.

I’d hope that attitudes have changed for the better since this comment was made seven years ago but that still hasn’t translated into an increase in female directors.

What’s holding them back?

Are women choosing not to put themselves forward or  are they not being accepted when they do because, regardless of qualifications and experience, having a y chromosome makes some candidates for directorships and management more equal than others?

P.S.

The Hand Mirror posted on the MWF/ID/BNZ joint initiative when it was first announced.

The King’s Breakfast

Over at In a Strange Land, Deborah is asking people for their party piece poems – those they can recite by heart.

That’s prompted this choice for Friday’s poem, A.A. Milne’s The King’s Breakfast.

There was a time I could recite it, word perfect but when I tried to type it out I had some gaps in the middle and had to peek at When We Were Very Young,  the collection of poems from which it comes to refresh my memory.

The King’s Breakfast

The King asked
The Queen, and
The Queen asked
The Dairymaid:
“Could we have some butter for
The Royal slice of bread?”
The Queen asked the Dairymaid,
The Dairymaid
Said, “Certainly,
I’ll go and tell the cow
Now
Before she goes to bed.”

The Dairymaid
She curtsied,
And went and told
The Alderney:
“Don’t forget the butter for
The Royal slice of bread.”
The Alderney
Said sleepily:
“You’d better tell
His Majesty
That many people nowadays
Like marmalade
Instead.”

The Dairymaid
Said, “Fancy!”
And went to
Her Majesty.
She curtsied to the Queen, and
She turned a little red:
“Excuse me,
Your Majesty,
For taking of
The liberty,
But marmalade is tasty, if
It’s very
Thickly
Spread.”

The Queen said
“Oh!:
And went to
His Majesty:
“Talking of the butter for
The royal slice of bread,
Many people
Think that
Marmalade
Is nicer.
Would you like to try a little
Marmalade
Instead?”

The King said,
“Bother!”
And then he said,
“Oh, deary me!”
The King sobbed, “Oh, deary me!”
And went back to bed.
“Nobody,”
He whimpered,
“Could call me
A fussy man;
I only want
A little bit
Of butter for
My bread!”

The Queen said,
“There, there!”
And went to
The Dairymaid.
The Dairymaid
Said, “There, there!”
And went to the shed.
The cow said,
“There, there!
I didn’t really
Mean it;
Here’s milk for his porringer,
And butter for his bread.”

The Queen took
The butter
And brought it to
His Majesty;
The King said,
“Butter, eh?”
And bounced out of bed.
“Nobody,” he said,
As he kissed her
Tenderly,
“Nobody,” he said,
As he slid down the banisters,
“Nobody,
My darling,
Could call me
A fussy man -
BUT
I do like a little bit of butter to my bread!”

        -  A. A. Milne -

Watering down the wine prices

One of Central Otago’s pioneering wine companies, William Hill Winery has been placed into receivership.

The ODT reports that rivalry from newer entrants in the viticulture industry contributed to the company’s problems.

Mr Green, of Carrick Winery at Bannockburn, told the Otago Daily Times established wineries like William Hill were facing more competition than ever before as new operators started to come on line.

He said lesser-known wineries were selling wine cheaply in order to move stock, which potentially created problems for companies with more expensive labels.

“Smaller wineries might be struggling to establish themselves so they’re selling wine at lower prices simply to generate cash flow, which is having an effect on more established wineries.

That’s compounding on other issues in the industry, such as the economic downturn,” he said.

This is sad for the company and the people involved in it but the issue isn’t peculiar to the wine industry.

Businesses come and go, some last longer than others and some damage their competitors in the process.

It’s tough but that’s the market and any alternative would be worse.

Too much information

Did we really need to know a cricketer will miss the Twenty20 world cup because he’s got genital warts?

Crossbred win makes some cross

Sex, religion and politics are not supposed to be raised in conversation at polite gatherings.

There’s many who would be happy for stock breeding to be added to the list.

People whoin the purebred business, have very strong feelings about the finer points of their favourite breeds and can wax lyrical about the genetics involved in breeding them.

It’s not surprising, then, that the annual Steak of Origin competition to find the best steak in the land attracts a fair bit of rivalry from beef breeders.

Imagine the consternation then, when the winner this year was not a pure beef breed but a crossbred, and a dairy cross at that.

Judges, Invercargill chef Graham Hawke, Minister of Agriculture David Carter and retired farmer and All Black legend Colin Meads (now aka Sir Pinetree), blind tasted 20 steaks. They awarded the title of Supreme Champion to a sirloin from a Piedmontese/Friesan cross entered by Catherine Withers from Rotorua who’s a dairy farmer not a beef breeder.

I’m told that good manners prevailed on the night but some breeders were a bit cross their purebred steak couldn’t quite cut the mustard in the competition.

The Steak of Origin link above will take you to the full results.

Brooke Fraser – Deciphering Me

Day 22 of the tune a day challenge for New Zealand Music Month.

Brooke Fraser sings Deciphering Me.

Catching up from yesterday:

Phoenix Foundation was singing Bright Grey at Inquiring Mind

Keeping Stock featured Evermore with Running.

And Rob’s having health problems of the technical and human kind (for which I send hopes of speedy and full recoveries) but manages to  list six great Kiwi songs he’s been unable to find clips for.

TradeMe tractor auction helping sick child too

The latest bid on the old International 574 tractor for sale on TradeMe is $233,032 - nearly $230,000 more than it’s worth but still not quite at the QV for the 8 hectare farm that’s been thrown in with it for free.

The auction has attracted 229054 views – and climbing by the second. It’s also helping a young boy who suffers from a rare medical condition.

His mother tried to auction a section on TradeMe but the auction was pulled. She then left a comment about this on the ask-a-seller for the tractor auction:

Good Luck – Trade Me pulled my listing similar to this – I was trying to fund raise for my son’s medical treatment in America and did an auction with a buy now that would include some land by the beach – its listed on Trade me so i had already paid the real estate listing fee – but they wouldn’t allow it – Hope you get what you need for the land.

She then left a further comment:

Still fundraising – relisted my auction (218925767) without the land bit – was tempted after seeing how successful this one is going – but I live rurally and Trade Me is how I get by when i can’t get into the City to get what I need… so better not annoy them.

Someone then asked for a bank account so they could donate money and it’s turned into a fundraiser to help pay for the enzyme repalcement therapy her son needs.

Jim Mora’s panel interviewed his mother yesterday (a bit more than half way through part 1).

100 days on the run

If you’re old enough you might remember George Wilder  the escaped prsioner who evaded police for a couple of months in 1962 and gained the status of folk hero.

William Stewart who escaped from custody in February has now been on the run for 100 days.

He’s suspected of the theft of several vehicles and burglaries in Canterbury as he’s continued to evade police.

He’s been called a folk hero too but the farmers who’ve been victims of theft aren’t amused. One suspects that Stewart spent several days in his woolshed,  surviving on meat taken from a freezer and cooked in a microwave.

Women’s refuge, also rejects any use of the term hero for the man who’s been convicted for violence against women.

Brash requests Commission of Inquiry into email investigation

Don Brash has requested a Commission of Inquiry into the way the police handled the theft of his emails when he was Leader of the Opposition.

Dr Brash has proposed to the Prime Minister and Minister that the Commission inquire into and report upon the integrity of the police investigation into the theft, and their behaviour since publicly announcing the investigation was closed; and satisfy itself that the police acted at all times professionally and without political bias or interference. It could not and should not seek to reopen or reactivate the investigation into the theft itself as that could be seen to cut across the role of the police or the role of the courts in determining criminal or civil liability.

“This is not about Don Brash. There are important issues relating to every New Zealander’s privacy and the integrity of our political system that deserve resolution,” Dr Brash said.

“Everybody has a right to expect their correspondence will not be illegally intercepted or read by people it is not intended for. That includes private individuals but it also includes political parties, business groups, trade unions and NGOs, all of whom need a degree of privacy in planning and discussing their ideas and strategies.

“In a democracy, everyone therefore has an interest in being assured that the police take such issues seriously.”

The time taken to undertake the investigation,  the way it was conducted, delay in releasing information when it was requested and the extensive censoring of what was eventually released all raise questions which ought to be answered by an independent inquiry.

This isn’t about the content of the emails. It’s about the right for correspondence between people to remain private , be they private individuals or public figures and whether or not the police handled the investigation properly.

Keeping Stock  noted the contrast between the release of the email report and the release of a “large and graphic” file on the Tony Veitch investigation.

Hat Tip: Kiwiblog

Kate De Goldi wins award with 10 PM Question

 Kate De Goldi won the NZ Post Children’s Book Awards with The 10 PM Question.

That book was also the winner of the Young Adult section.

The other winners were:

Non Fiction: Back & Beyond New Zealand Painting for the Young and Curious by Gregory O’Brien.

Junior  Fiction: Old Drumble by Jack Lasenby.

Picture Book: Roadworks by Sally Sutton, illustrated by Brian Lovelock.

Picture Book Honour Award: Piggety-Wiggety Jiggety Jig by Diana Neild, illustrated by Philip Webb.

Children’s Choice Award: The Were-Nana by Melinda Szymanik, illustrated by Sarah Nelisiwe Anderson.

Best First Book: Violence 101  by Denis Wright.

A few questions about the Families Commision:

1. What do we know about the other family commissioners?

2. Does it matter?

3. What do they do?

4. What have they achieved?

5. How much has it cost?

6. Would families have got greater benefits if that money was spent elsewhere?

7. Would the taxpayer get a better return on the investment if that money was spent elsewhere?

8. Do we need a Families Commission?

If you’re struggling with any of the answers, pop over to Cactus Kate for assistance.

Chief Science advisor key appointment – Updated

John Key has appointed Professor Peter Gluckman as the Prime Minister’s chief science advisor.

Mr Key says Professor Gluckman is one of the country’s leading scientists and he will make an important contribution in the newly created part-time role.

“This appointment delivers on the Government’s goal of including science at the heart of our decision-making.

“I campaigned on creating this role because I recognise that New Zealand’s prosperity rests on our ability to make full use of the expertise that our scientists can contribute.

“Professor Gluckman will provide me with a direct line to advice when I need it. He will be an independent voice that will complement existing channels of advice such as government departments and the Royal Society.”

. . . “This role is one of vital importance that demands not only a high level of science expertise, but also the utmost integrity to fairly represent the state of science knowledge.”

This is both a Key and a key appointment which indicates the government’s high regard for science.

Prof. Gluckman was founding director of the Liggins Institute. He’ll relinquish that position but continue his employment with Auckland University.

He was the NZ Herald New Zealander of the Year in 2004.

AgResearch chief executive Dr Andrew West welcomed Prof Gluckman’s appointment:

“This is an important step in the reinvigoration of science within New Zealand’s culture from being nice-to-have to being essential. The Prime Minister’s message in this appointment is that scientific contribution must once again be a significant component of New Zealand’s well-being and prosperity.”

Dr West and many in the scientific community have long been adamant that recognition of the importance of science to this country has declined in the face of scepticism about the contribution it can make. Such sentiment has been reflected in the stubbornly low priority placed on investment in science and technology when compared to the much greater commitment to S&T in other OECD economies, expressed as a percentage of GDP. This erosion of trust has resulted in short-term focus and excessive compliance expectations. Coinciding with the appointment of Professor Gluckman, there finally seems to be proper attention being paid to recovering trust in scientists and scientific institutions through a recent start to simplifying funding systems.

The announcement of the appointment coincides with much gnashing of teeth about changes to science funding, but as Macdoctor says, the facts on the canning of the Fast Forward fund don’t support the emotion.

The Mint Chicks – Sleeping Through The Day

Day 21 of the tune a day for New Zealand Music Month Challenge.

It’s the Mint Chicks with Sleeping Through The Day:

Over at Inquiring Mind The Herbs were singing Homegrown

Keeping Stock was listening to Always On My Mind by Tiki Taane

Subs should have dirty minds . . .

. . . or at least the ability to spot a double entendre so they spot the problem with a headline like this from TV3:

Melissa Lee turned on at heated Auckland University debate

Otago Capping Show Sextet 2

An encore from the Otago Capping Show Sextet – this time it’s The Price of Living:

Selwyn Ballet

While searching for something from The Sextet I came across another Otago Capping Show favourite, the Selwyn College Ballet:

Another side to pig rearing

The ODT shows how to give a balanced report in this story on pig farming.

A farmer who raises his pigs indoors gives his side of the story, with pictures; and the paper also interviews a woman who has free range pigs.

That’s good journalism, without the heat and lack of balance which has characterised much of the issue so far this week.

Brits turn manuka honey into gold

An enterprising British beekeeper has imported manuka from New Zealand and sells the honey produced from the nectar for five pounds a teaspoon.

At £55 a small pot, few people will be smearing Tregothnan manuka honey liberally on their breakfast toast any day soon.

But the Tregothnan estate in Cornwall, which already does well selling tea grown on its warm, dampish slopes, is confident the honey will find its niche among aficionados of all things sweet.

The company claims the price tag is justified as its bees are housed in 20 special hives worth £5,000 each and have the exclusive run (or flight) of the garden’s manuka bushes, normally found in New Zealand or Australia.

Tregothnan’s garden director, Jonathan Jones, said: “The honey is expensive, but it is Britain’s only manuka honey. It has become a lifestyle product, a luxury. This year is the first time the plants produced nectar which gave us our first jars, around 100.”

There are healing properties in honey which has the UMF (Unique Manuka Factor),  and wound dressings made from honey and seaweed gel have been approved for use here, in Europe and the USA.

But not all honey made from bees which feed on manuka makes the grade and the story on the Cornwall honey doesn’t mention the UMF at all. However, it’s up to consumers and authorities over there to worry about that.

There could be benefits for New Zealand honey producers if they’re able to compete – and at five pound a teaspoon that shouldn’t be difficult.

There is also a potential downside though if beekeepers in other countries which can grow manuka easily establish plots and provide strong competition for producers here.

It happened with kiwifruit but our growers have the advantage of producing fruit in the European and North American off-season. While bees need the right temperatures to collect nectar, honey has a long storage life so big producers elsewhere could supply manuka all year round.